We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Pia De Girolamo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Pia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I have been an artist since childhood. Growing up, I studied with a local artist and took painting and drawing courses in college. I also took a pre-med track and trained and practiced as an Infectious Diseases physician for many years. I had a successful private practice. Eventually, I experienced burnout trying to juggle the clinical and administrative demands of a private practice with family and an art practice. Many colleagues who were experiencing the same thing were leaving clinical practice for jobs with medical insurers or Pharma — a route that did not appeal to me. I had started taking painting courses at local museums and art centers in what little spare time I had, and eventually, began entertaining the notion that I could paint full time. I put off this decision for several years until my husband and I could be sure we could sustain our family on his salary. Psychologically, I felt some risks in making this change. Was I defined by my profession? Would my husband see me differently? Could I succeed as an artist? What would success look like? Would anyone be interested enough in my work to buy a painting? I didn’t have an art degree; would that hold me back in the art world I was hoping to join? A trusted colleague asked me an important question when I was at the height of my feelings of burnout: If you could, what would you do with your life right now? My answer was to leave medicine and set up an art studio. He responded, “so do it”. Somehow, after that, I was able to give myself permission to make this big change. It took another year or two to ease out of my medical practice, but I dedicated myself to art and never looked back.

I developed a body of work and then found venues in which to show it. I have now been a working artist for about 17 years, as long as I worked as a physician. I am with Cerulean Arts Gallery in Philadelphia, which shows and sells my work. Additionally, I regularly participate in juried exhibitions throughout the Northeast. A few years ago, I had a show in a small museum in Rome, which was a highlight. Painting enriches my life every day. It widens my understanding of the world and connects me with so many new people. Making this shift has been the best risk I have ever taken.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I make paintings using acrylic on canvas and paper that reinterpret the American modernist tradition. I typically work in series, delving deep into explorations on a theme. My practice channels and reconsiders the ideas and techniques of artists such as Avery, Dove, and O’Keefe. My subjects include flowers, natural landscapes, cityscapes, and people.

I work from memory, referring occasionally to my sketchbooks, photographs, and smaller preparatory sketches to guide the creation of a painting. Though I may start with a general direction, I leave myself open to big changes as I paint, much like planning a route ahead of time through a wild place and having to revise and change course as unexpected obstacles arise. I leave room for chance and intuition to enter into the process. The paintings evolve; while some refer to real places, others spring from composite memories of shapes or vistas.

My most recent works portray aspects of the urban landscape of Philadelphia and its suburbs where I live. When I discover a particularly compelling composition in a suburban or urban scene—how a pine tree looks silhouetted against a bright sky or how power lines, bridges, and ramps crisscross and create movement, I take photos. Back in the studio I interpret the scene in acrylic paint, sometimes making several paintings that are variations of the same scene. As a former art history major with a concentration in architecture, I appreciate the contrasts and commonalities between historic and modern buildings. Along the Schuylkill River, there is a lively interplay of form and line between the old and new buildings and the bridges and roadways. In the suburbs, hard edged structures like sheds, water towers and houses coexist and stand in contrast with pockets of nature.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My mother died of COVID during the pandemic and my disabled sister who lived with her had to be hospitalized. After these tragic events, I became the executor of my mother’s estate and my sister’s guardian. I moved my sister from Florida to Pennsylvania. This short summary sentence cannot begin to convey the enormous amount of legal, administrative, and financial work that this entailed over a period of about two years. During that time, I found that working in the studio helped me maintain the mental focus needed to navigate so many unfamiliar issues and tasks that often seemed overwhelming. I put what energy I had left into my studio which got me through until things were more settled. By the time the world opened back up, I had a strong body of work that I wanted to share. I was fortunate that I was with a gallery that could show my paintings, and I was excited to find more opportunities to show beyond the immediate area. Making art helped me be resilient.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being an artist provides me with a constant source of enrichment. It has taught me to really observe closely, whether it is an urban or natural landscape or a person. The ability to interpret the world around me and create something new is always energizing and an amazing gift. It is also a means to enter a state of flow such as one might with meditation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.piadegirolamo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artdoc07
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/piadegirolamo/