We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tana Rey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tana below.
Hi Tana, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Oh, goodness, what a hard question to start this interview! This year, I’ve been lucky enough to accomplish a few major goals I set for myself when I decided I would pursue a creative career in 2020. I’ve also been fortunate to step into some incredible opportunities that I did not imagine for myself three years ago.
My first major accomplishment this year was having my first solo exhibition at the Poinciana Library in Kissimmee, Florida. My collection “Spoken Spirit” debuted there, curated by Tre Harris. The collection was inspired by the words of wisdom by Frida Kahlo, Vincent Van Gogh, and Keith Haring. I want my artwork to be accessible for everyone to enjoy, so it was a special honor to have my first solo exhibition at an indispensable public institution like the library.
Secondly, I was invited by the lovely and talented Regan McCreight to participate in a collaborative art installation “Pyramids of Perception” at Odyssey Music Festival in St. Petersburg, Florida. As a lifelong fan of live music, it was a dream come true to also live paint during the festival as well.
Last but certainly not least, I’m honored that I was selected to become the Gallerist Apprentice at The Mills Gallery in Orlando, Florida. Joining the Mills Team has been an incredibly valuable way for me to learn about the unseen work that happens in the Fine Art industry. In a surprising turn of events, through the gallery, I became a producer for a political interview series “A Conversation With” hosted by Juan Pablo Santa Luna and Boris Garbe. My aim is to bring the perspective of my millennial generation to the show and broaden its audience. We’re excited to announce that the program will be released later this year!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Alright, let me start from the beginning. I was born and raised in “The City Beautiful” – Orlando, Florida. Growing up, I always had a crayon in hand, eager to transform my imaginations to life on paper. At home I was praised for my artistic abilities but was strongly dissuaded from pursuing any creative career. As a teenager trying to determine my path, I took my elders’ discouragement to heart and I dared not to dream of chasing my artistic passion professionally.
Time passed on, and my creative spark dimmed to a rainy-day hobby which I seldom allowed myself to enjoy. It was not until 2019, while attempting to find a healthy way to process my immense grief for my dad’s passing, that I rediscovered my joy for painting. In 2020 I began taking classes at Crealde School of Art, focusing on abstract painting, and in 2021 I was accepted into their Fellowship Artist program.
Since I’ve pivoted my career into the creative industry, I’ve quieted the booming voice of my inner critic down to a whisper, and I’ve dared to call myself an Artist. I want your readers to know that through my journey, I’ve discovered the power of vulnerability, and the importance of embracing imperfection. I’m proud of the relationship I have developed with my abstract process of translating the multitudes of the human experience through my artwork.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
I am consistently intrigued by the diverse reactions people have to my artwork. When people resonate with my art, it’s often because it spoke intrinsically to them. On the other hand, when someone doesn’t connect with my work, I don’t take it personally, because I understand that my art won’t resonate with everyone.
Despite being an Abstract Artist, every painting I compose serves as a form of self-portraiture for my innermost being. Since my artistic journey has also served as a journey of self-discovery – with each new painting, I delve deeper into understanding myself. When I’m engaged in the creative process, I pour my entire self into it – the canvas and I meld into a singular entity. And because I paint intentionally first and foremost for myself, my pride in my work is unwavering.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
To quote my Mills Gallery colleague and Orlando’s very own Community Unifier, Juan Pablo Santa Luna: “Unlearn, Relearn.” To me, this phrase signifies a continuous evolution – an acknowledgment that there’s no ultimate destination or ceremonial culmination in my creative journey.
The hurdles I’ve had to overcome to become an Artist involve shedding self-defeating, limiting beliefs that held me back from achieving my full potential. It’s a daily commitment to forgive myself for being critical to my imperfections, and instead re-learning to celebrate them as an integral ingredient to my perfectly human essence.
I wouldn’t be here today if I had not unlearned who I was, and relearned who it was I wanted to become. I’m grateful I’m here today to meet you as I am.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @tanareystudio
- Tik Tok: @tanareystudio
- E-mail: [email protected]
Image Credits
Studio Photographer: Madison Lumbert Odyssey Music Festival Photographer: George Garzon