We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zeinab Ghais. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zeinab below.

Hi Zeinab, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

Community has always been very important to me. I desire to create a space for creative people to come together and feel safe in their environment. A place for people to heal and find peace. I am in the process of starting a non-profit so I may open a community art center with galleries and an art chapel. This will allow people to come together and express themselves. I think people will say that I had vivacious energy and exuded positivity and always lifted people up. I hope to be remembered for bringing the best out in people. Helping people to expand their minds and create art within.

Zeinab, 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 was raised with art in my family, which made it easy to be creative and expressive growing up. Before college I always had a knack for color and placement of things. During college a friend gave me a Feng Shui book and said I was a natural and didn’t even know it. I started SCAD in interior design and soon realized I wanted to use my hands to build things. I ended up with a BFA in Furniture Design and a minor in art history. After college I studied under a master faux finisher and explored the world of historical preservation. I eventually moved back into interior design and continued to create art. I started Studio ZG in 2014, as art & home furnishing store, which closed in 2016. I kept the name and continued to use it as my brand. In my world every day can be different depending on my clients. I could spend half the week on the computer creating design boards, drawings and sourcing products, then finishing the week hand painting signage. I absolutely love that every week can be a new experience. I can honestly say that I love what I do and it keeps me on my toes. As an artist I have spent years challenging myself to get our of my comfort zone and it has paid off. I just completed my largest mural to date for the City of Bay City, Texas. I was commissioned to paint Sato, one of our county’s longhorns, who has won the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest horns back in 2019. This allowed the my fans to see me in a whole new light.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I am a born to help people. My way just tends to be through art & design, which leads to transformation. That is the goal for me. Helping someone go through that transformation, because ultimately they end up transforming too. When you change the environment around you then you are forced to change with it. There is such beauty in that. The goal is for my clients to thrive in their space.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

When I started Studio ZG, it was as a pop up store inside my friends existing storefront. What made the decision was I had an opportunity to go to Colorado and pick through a house, which led to a storage space full of furniture and accessories. My only cost was I was responsible get it all and bring it back. I only had to give my friend a cut of the profit. After the pop up store became a success, I decided to reach out to another friend who had an incredible collection of art from his deceased in-laws. That allowed the business to expand and partner to bring in the art and share cost. I really didn’t have initial capital but I did have a reputation and people who believe in me. That says a lot.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.zeinabghais.com
• Instagram: @studiozg
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeinab.ghais
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeinabghais/
• Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/zV0B85OEZ8LdaYBjm-E3Sw

Image Credits
Kristina Nicole Photography Zeinab Ghais