We recently connected with Taylor Bielecki and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Taylor thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share a story that illustrates an important or relevant lesson you learned in school

When I was struggling with great adversity in my life in both undergraduate and graduate school, 2 mentors and now close friends gave me advice that I now live by everyday. It pulled me back on track. A great friend and mentor once told me “artists always seem to find a way, keep a level head, keep going”, and another mentor told me “a great kindness is better than winning”. Along with my high school advanced geology teacher sharing Monday morning advice each week and urging us to “live life as if it was a movie”. All three pieces of advice have carried me through some good times, bad times, and the uncertain times of this past year. All three pieces of advice help me to stay on this journey as a creative, to never give up, and to help others go after their dreams, because I was given a chance to chase mine, so I hope someday I can help someone else on their journey.

Taylor , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been interested in art since I was 6, creating my own trading cards and comic books. Art and movies were my escape during rough times in my early life due to divorced parents. Throughout school, I loved to draw and tried to put the stories in my head onto paper, but it wasn’t until undergrad at Penn State that I found I loved oil painting. I always told my professors that I’d never be a painter, well, I was definitely wrong. Now holding an MFA, I adore painting and everything about it, as I spend most of my time after work in my studio creating paintings that have emerged from my love of studying the cinema. I went from watching so many movies in my childhood to now wanting to create my own scenes with my painting and with each piece, I write a short story as the “before” or “after” of the scene on the canvas. I look to bring my take on translating film to painting so audiences can experience my works as if they were watching a slowed down film, from the street perspective.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Last year, returning home from studying abroad in Venice, the most magical place in the world, I was told my former supervisor was quitting at Pratt. Thanks to many wonderful people and recommendations, Pratt decided to take a chance on me and offer me the job. I had 3 days to get back to NYC from PA and no certain future ahead, just that I would work hard to prove myself and keep the job. That began my 6 month journey of couch surfing and learning to be flexible, until I earned the job, found my studio and apartment, and navigated many new changes and challenges.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

This one was early on, but kind of set the stage for the rest of my life. Due to a minor case of Cerebral Palsy, I had to have surgery on my leg, and I had to learn to walk properly and continue for the rest of my life to keep moving. As long as I kept moving, my muscles wouldn’t quit on me, and so far I’ve kept going, chasing my dreams, knowing that I’m kind of on a second chance at this journey, and I don’t want to waste a minute of it, because life chances so fast.

Contact Info:

• Website: Tbdesignsart.carbonmade.com
• Instagram: @taylor.bielecki
• Facebook: Taylor.n.bielecki