We’re looking forward to introducing you to Raymond Elman. Check out our conversation below.
Raymond, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: When was the last time you felt true joy?
I feel joy every day, but the most recent amount of huge joy I experienced was June 20th, 2025, when my son and his family flew from Vancouver to Miami to surprise me on my birthday.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I have been an artist my whole life. For the first half of my career I only made abstract art. In 1989, I made a 6 x 5 foot portrait of my wife, pregnant with our son. Since then I have mainly made large-scale, mixed-media portraits, mostly of impactful creative people in the arts. Four of my portraits are in the collection of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and have been exhibited there. My work is in the collections of a variety of museums and public institutions.
I also founded or co-founded several art magazines, most importantly “Provincetown Arts” in 1985, which is still being published today; and “ArtSpeak” (nee “Inspicio”), which I founded in 2015. “ArtSpeak” is sponsored by the FIU Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media, which is part of The College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts at Florida International University. The heart and soul of “ArtSpeak” is our 500+ video conversations with impactful creative people across all art disciplines — U.S. Poet Laureates, Pulitzer Prize recipients, Oscar, Grammy, Tony, Emmy, Golden Globe, Pritzker, etc. award winners.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
In the late 1960s, I met and spent time with Baba Ram Dass (nee Richard Alpert) in New York City. He opened my eyes to the oneness of the universe and the importance of living in the moment. I also came to believe that the core of all religions is the same. As a result, I moved from New York City to Provincetown on the northern tip of Cape Cod, where I did not know a soul. I wanted to be alone so I could make my artwork, meditate, and embrace nature. I decided to abandon the benefits of my two degrees from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and view my life as an experiment — walking through all doors that appealed to me.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I used to believe that an authoritarian state would not be possible in the USA. Now I am not so sure.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
People, relationships, kindness, empathy, love
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I was kind, loving, and had a great sense of humor.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rayelman.com and https://artspeak.fiu.edu/
- Other: https://artspeak.fiu.edu/
www.rayelman.com
