Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Pilla. Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Pilla. They and their team shared their story with us to the below:
Lauren Pilla grew up in Gates Mills, Ohio. She received her BFA (Major in fashion Design) from The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. After college, she worked for the German fashion house Escada and a fine jewelry company. She also worked in venture capital for a private real estate family and EXOR (holding company of the Agnelli family) in New York. Lauren’s non-linear path has been the culmination that’s led her to discover her purpose of being an artist.
Lauren left the corporate world and moved to Florida at the end of 2021 to pursue oil painting. Lauren is a contemporary figurative painter whose work has been focused on painting imagery of herself underwater. As both the artist and the subject, she combines her spiritual practice with painting. Lauren’s work addresses overarching themes in people’s lives around overcoming fear, surrendering, finding faith, and coming back to the essence of who they truly are.
Art has always been a part of Lauren, but it wasn’t leaving New York that she had truly Surrendered. Change is uncomfortable and jarring at times, but that’s where the growth lies and in her case a return to who she always was – an artist. She had suppressed her gifts and spent a long time on a path she didn’t belong, later realizing it was all part of the divine process for her to arrive here.
Lauren spent most of her career working in male-dominated industries where she tried to fit into a mold surrounded by people who wanted her to become their vision, not hers. She had been stuck in a world driven by masculine energy. After years of being stifled and feeling like she had to prove herself to be accepted, she left the corporate world and embarked on her new creative journey. One that became quite healing and magical.
She went inward and put the focus back on her, putting herself first. This is the reason she is the main subject in her collections. It all began with vivid dreams about water and she started to put the pieces in motion and worked with a local photographer to shoot her underwater capturing moments in time. The premise of this series is to reclaim feminine energy. Water is a feminine earth element and the life force of everything in nature.
It’s symbolic of the feminine spirit of oneness and receptive energy, which is why Lauren’s floating poses in water capture a moment of stillness juxtaposed with regeneration. Water is shapeless, formless, and cannot be confined, connecting back to the liberating moment of coming back to self. The fluidity of the chiffon is representative of the fabric of life. The threads that interweave our experiences and one’s pursuit for meaning and happiness.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I believe all my unique experiences during my corporate life in New York prepared me for this next chapter in life – but once you commit to your new path it comes with highs and lows along the way. One struggle as an emerging artist is building up your inventory to have enough work to exhibit, and submit to galleries all while focusing on selling.
The balance of making time to paint and also network, because at the end of the day building relationships are everything, you’re not only selling your work but selling yourself as well. Since artists are solo entrepreneurs, it can be a very isolating life, which is why relationships and networking are crucial.
Everyone will have feedback and advice for you, it’s important to quiet out the noise and listen to yourself, the right people and opportunities will find you. I moved down to Florida with zero art connections and virtually no inside knowledge of the art world, but I believed in my talent and always kept the faith – success isn’t overnight, each event I do or person I have met has led me to the next thing or kismet opportunity.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a figurative oil painter and my work primarily consists of painting underwater imagery. I think one unique aspect is I’m both the artist as well as the subject, but I keep my face hidden in the paintings – which gives more mystery and allure that it could be anyone.
Each painting I do also correlates to what I am currently going through in life and my journey as an artist. I am most proud of when people see my work they always say they feel something when looking at the art, so as an artist, I believe if I can make someone feel some kind of emotion or think of something, then I’ve done my job.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Well I’ve always been creative, I am a self-taught artist…so I always say it’s a gift from god borrowed from heaven. I was a former ballet dancer up until the age of 18 so I think that skill has helped me with the movement of posing underwater.
I’ve also never been a rule follower, which has hopefully helped me out in life! I also have wonderful parents who have always encouraged my creativity and I am grateful that they have been my support system throughout this art journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.laurenpillaart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenpillaart/
Image Credits
Carrie Weidner and Katie McCaskill
