Today we’d like to introduce you to Payal Tak.
Hi Payal, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For over three decades I was focused on growing and executing a business in Information Technology. Those years were packed with high energy and a fast pace. Time flew by. It was a fantastic run. While focusing on my IT business, I relied heavily on creating art as my go-to activity to re-energize at the end of my day. I would often paint late into the night in my studio, listening to Sufi music, and recharging for the next workday.
Over the years, I experimented with several mediums including acrylics, oil paints, mixed media, and so much more. Somewhere along the way, I settled on acrylics as my favorite. Now, after retiring from my IT business, I am at a stage of life that has allowed me to devote all my time to Art.
I have embraced this opportunity wholeheartedly and have established Lucid Art Gallery in Miami’s Design District to share my creations and more importantly, to provide a commercial platform to new, mid-career, and rising artists, and let their works be seen by art lovers.
Lucid’s Grand Opening starts with the “CHROMA” Show that will run from 11/28/2022 to 12/11/2022 and will showcase paintings and sculptures curated by Graciela Montich, an Argentinian-Italian artist and curator. I named the show CHROMA because it will be a collective show of a myriad of styles and mixed media.
With an art of eleven artists, each with a unique message, the CHROMA Show will present all colors of the spectrum.
Participating artists include Brandon Clarke, Elidea, Enrique Alfonso, Graciela Montich, Gustavo Ramirez Cruz, Heather Lynn, Payal Tak, Ramses Llufrio, Robert Frankel, Romina Garbarino, and Simi Bhandari.
This exhibition explores my belief that “if a myriad of colors can peacefully coexist on a single canvas, then why can’t humans peacefully coexist on a single planet?” I couldn’t be more grateful to live life for allowing me to perpetually surround myself with color. I am eager to learn and willing to explore, and I am putting all my creative energy into discovering the unknown.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No business is without risks. But risk and reward go hand in hand. Owning an Art Gallery is my second career and I will apply the basic principles of executing a successful business to Lucid, just as I did when I executed my IT business. My career has taught me that taking risks is almost essential if one wants to progress. Regardless of the outcome, each risky endeavor teaches a meaningful lesson that I leverage to keep growing as a person.
The biggest challenge that I face currently is to make room for so many artists at Lucid. Though it is a very spacious gallery, for CHROMA Show, I had to draw the line at 11 artists to be able to do justice in displaying everyone’s work. I get outreach from new artists every day who are eager to participate in Lucid’s shows and I am hopeful that we will include them all in our shows of 2023 and beyond.
We’ve been impressed with Lucid Art Gallery – LucidDesignDistrict, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I strongly believe in equal opportunity for all. I am passionate about women’s and children’s causes and I support them wholeheartedly in whatever manner I can. I was raised by a mother who was the backbone of the family and who taught me to liberally share the wealth for it to grow.
From her, I learned to recognize my societal responsibilities and give back to the world. As such, I support equality for women in every walk of life and support the upcoming entrepreneurs, especially those who work in industries that may be male-dominated.
My technology company Telesis employed over 500 employees of which 60% were female and 55% were minorities.
This mindset has helped me carve out Lucid’s mission to create a commercial platform for emerging and mid-career artists and share the wealth of Lucid’s wall space with creative individuals.
Lucid is a sizeable gallery at 3,700 sq. ft. and 15’ high walls. It is located at Miami’s “art corner” (10-12 NE 41 St. at Miami Ave) next to Museum Garage and across the street from the de la Cruz Collection and ICA Miami. I use a small portion of the space as my workshop and studio.
The rest of it is display space for art and I want to share this with fellow artists. The idea is to connect with the community through collaborative art exchanges. I envision hosting regular exhibitions, educational art talks, and artist networking events.
My goal is to rotate artists frequently to be able to maximize participation. This allows the Gallery to bring new art to its audience regularly; allows many artists to showcase their creations and spread their message; and allows me to give back to the community, learn from everyone’s experiences, and continue to grow as an individual. It is a win-win situation all around. How can this concept go wrong?
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
Lucid Art Gallery is a place that aims to inspire and motivate and offer artists a place where they can make their unknown known. I welcome collaboration with artists; art teachers who want to teach their talent; art institutions; organizations that support women’s and children’s causes; academic institutions; and healthcare organizations. Lucid welcomes collaboration.
I welcome everyone to visit the gallery during Art Week and feast their senses on the CHROMA collection of fabulous art and meet the artists as well.
CHROMA — Grand Opening Group Exhibition
Lucid Art Gallery – Lucid Design District
10-12 NE 41st St.
Miami, FL 33137
Vernissage: 11/29 5PM – 8PM
Artist Reception: 12/3 2PM – 8PM
Gallery Hours: 11/28 – 12/11, 11 AM – 8 PM
www.LucidDesignDistrict.com
@LucidDesignDistrict
#LucidDesignDistrict
Eventbrite Event Link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lucid-design-district-grand-opening-chroma-art-basel-miami-exhibition-tickets-429244561037
Facebook event link: https://fb.me/e/3CY7TIicm
Contact Info:
- Website: www.luciddesigndistrict.com
- Instagram: @LucidDesignDistrict
- Facebook: @LucidDesignDistrict
Image Credits
Brett Hufziger (@brett_hufziger)
