We recently connected with Tiffany Conway and have shared our conversation below.

Tiffany, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The greatest risk I ever took was committing to a career as an artist. I made a plan to save up before leaping., but in 2020, God made the leap for me with the pandemic. At the top of 2020, I was honored to receive the Artistic Achievement Award from the Art of African Diaspora. Shortly thereafter, the startup I worked for lost its investors, leading to significant layoffs, including myself. Soon after, the pandemic was officially declared. And I made the bold decision to take the remainder of 2020 off from the workforce and dedicate myself fully to painting. That choice proved to be transformative, altering the course of my life in unexpected ways.

Tiffany, 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 am not a portrait painter. Not in the traditional sense. I like to classify myself as a figurative painter, as it feels a little less restrictive. My figures are characters that are the result of my imagination and a photo reference here or there. These paintings are more about the world I’d like to see and less about the world as it is.

I began painting back in 2011 as a hobby before I started taking art courses.

I consider myself an oil painter, but I experiment with other mediums like acrylic, pastels, and other drawing mediums.

What I am most proud of in my journey as an artist is the connection my work brings. By showing my work, I get to see who my work resonates with and why. A lot of people say my figures and characters remind them of someone they love or a moment that brought them joy, and that to me, is what it’s all about.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

The concept of NFTs is intriguing, undoubtedly. Yet, tangible objects continue to hold significance. The unique touch of an artist’s hand, unrepeatable by AI, remains invaluable. Humans possess complexity and imperfection, and the act of creating art demands emotional intelligence and vulnerability. These qualities are impossible for AI to replicate. There will forever be an audience captivated by creations crafted by human hands, shaped by human emotions and psyche.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Being a black woman in this country, I learned to minimize who I am to make others comfortable. Whether it was in a 9-5 structure or certain social circles, I learned that to stay “safe,” I should shrink. In many ways, I learned that there is no real safety. Through art, I learned to express myself and get to my authentic core. Through art, I learned how to give myself room to blossom unabashedly.

Contact Info:

• Website: tiffanyconway.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanyconwayart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffanyconwayart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-conway-547338241/

Image Credits
Photographer: Bryon Malik