We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Patricia Gagic a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Patricia, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
As a young child I was always pencil sketching. I had a fascination with drawing both dresses/costumes and faces. There was a contest in the back of a magazine in which you had to draw a similar likeness or profile and mail it them. At the age of 10, I decided to draw one and submit it for review. The response was mailed back to me a month later indicating I had talent and I should become an artist and attend their art school! I felt super encouraged and always considered this to be a benchmark for the future. As a twenty year old I continued to do pointillism drawings with ink which I sold for two dollars each! In my thirties, I started water color painting and then in 1989 I met my Maestro in France who changed my life. I saw his work in the home of a friend who told me he lived three hours away from the place I would be staying at in France. I insisted I wanted to meet him. He was not as interested in meeting me though and turned down my request several times. However, I became more curious and finally “begged” him to allow me to visit It was arranged and agreed on. We drove to Savoillan, Mont Ventoux where I met the most brilliant artist who completely changed my life forever. He allowed me to visit his atelier (studio) which was on the top floor of this 5th century village home (more like a mini castle)! I entered and saw the posters of his work with the names of other famous European artists including Picasso, Altan, Alvarez and Christo. I knew I was out of my league and yet I felt this was a serendipitous calling. Monsieur Dragan Dragic was his name and he only spoke Serbian and French. He did not speak English. He agreed to invite me to spend one week with him in the atelier with the condition that I learn some French, so we could communicate. I spent the following 3 months glued to Le Baron and hired a tutor! The efforts were well appreciated and he became curious about my enthusiasm and skill. Twenty three years later, he is still my Maestro and we formed a very beautiful friendship. I would go to see him at least once or twice a year and we had a joint exhibition together in Sault, France in 2007.
Patricia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was very driven to become an artist, however, I also needed a paying job. I began a career in banking in the early seventies and started as a teller. Within a few years, it was recognized that I had potential and was consistently promoted. By the time I was twenty five years old I had taken on several management positions and eventually I was promoted to be a branch manager. I believe I was one of the youngest females to take on this position. Ultimately it led me to taking on a senior position and at the age of twenty nine I was managing a staff of ninety two in the third largest branch in Toronto, Ontario. I continued to pursue my education by taking courses and eventually I started my own property management business and developed a retirement home. All during this time, I was painting and drawing submitting my work to juried shows and winning a few! I believe this furthered my interest in being known as an artist not just a business person. Art became a new business.
I was fortunate to exhibit in 2001 at a Biennale in Firenze, Italy. It was there I met BB International Fine Arts in Switzerland and was invited to participate in their events. I exhibited in Berlin, Geneva, South Korea, France and several other cities. Several years later, I participated in the SNBA (Salon Nationale Beaux Arts) which is held at the Carrousel du Louvre, in Paris. My photography work was submitted by FACEC, Benedict Lecat in the 135th annual show. It was one of the highlights of my career, as I was chosen to receive the highest honor, the Gold Medal. Following that several other awards have been bestowed including Artist of the Year 2020 for Art Tour International magazine which featured my painting on the magazine cover. Again in 2023, I will be Artist of the Year. I have also been named one of the Top 10 Contemporary artists by Masters of Today in 2022 and 2023.
Most of the work at this time is completed with acrylic paint using the palette and technique shown to me by Dragic. I have always loved the very dark works of Pierre Soulages and the Chinese master Zao Wou Ki. The elemental aspect of my work often creates the illusions of landscape and a more etheric energy. I appreciate the symbolism of character and also painting to music. It has become a very important aspect of my work. Quite a few of my exhibitions have been specific to a certain genre of music. The most recent exhibition was held at 13th Street Gallery in St. Catharine’s titled Lodger. This was a concept of painting to the specific piece of music by the great guitarist Pat Metheny. This particular work was painted consistently while listening to the one song Lodger. In addition, I have joined in a collaboration with an artist and percussionist Greg Difrancesco. We have teamed up and operate as Lotus97.7. The recent body of work exhibited was in honor of the late Neil Peart who was the drummer for the rock band Rush. He was considered to be one of the greatest drummers in the world. We were very privileged to have his family attend the gallery and view our work. A moment to remember!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My love for travelling has also been important. I have visited many unusual places and deliberately find myself with camera in hand. In 2006, I had the incredible pleasure of being involved in the building of a library in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia. The following year, I travelled throughout China and ended my trip with a visit to Cambodia where I was able to meet with Master Keo Ann who is the “gatekeeper” of Angkor. He runs a small orphanage and school for poor children. During the visit I was shocked at the buildings and lack thereof. The atrocities which occurred during the time of the Khmer Rouge regime were evident with so much damage. I left there feeling I could do more and took it upon myself to help build and create renovations and restorations. For over five years, the task was undertaken by Master Keo Ann and without financial support we built a new school, kitchen, washrooms and a school for the children and monks. The opportunity to visit them a few times has been life altering. In many ways, the efforts seemed magnanimous however, they were achieved. My mission in life has always been to be of servitude in whatever capacity I am able. The mission inside my head was to find a peaceful and joyful way of examining the world. In the art, I find a solace which is revealed in the gentleness of gracing the work with complexities which open a gateway to the soul.
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
I love the idea that the meta-verse is happening although I am terrified at how rapid the changes in technology happen. I was introduced to a company called Authentify Art and had the privilege to create an NFT with their technical support. As Lotus97.7 we felt the work was genuinely in need of being unique. This was where we began to film ourselves painting with drum sticks, wires and mallets on the actual canvas to specific pieces of music. The end result was amazing and Authentify liked the idea of including the video clip as a bonus when the NFT’s were sold. I believe pricing the work/NFT is important to a collector as they are also able to re-sell and the royalties are also given to the original creator/artist. Unlike the traditional art world where a painting is sold and the artist receives remuneration less commission and then if the work is resold there is no benefit to the artist. The world is changing and the market will always have room for new ideas.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.patriciakarengagic.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/patriciagagic
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/PatriciaGagic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-gagic-594688
- Twitter: @PatriciaGagic
- Other: https://www.mediakit.art/patricia-karen-gagic-media-kit/.