Today we’d like to introduce you to Florencia Clement De Grandprey.
Hi Florencia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey to becoming a full‑time artist was anything but straightforward. I’ve always felt a pull toward creating, but for many years I followed a completely different path. I didn’t study art formally—my degree is in International Affairs and Foreign Languages, and aside from a couple of basic painting and drawing electives, art wasn’t part of my academic life. After college, I lived and worked across Europe as an English tutor and tour guide, then spent several years flying long‑haul for British Airways. I even trained as an airline pilot and flew for British Regional Airlines…all this before turning 30. Later, I shifted into interior design and professional makeup artistry.
Each chapter taught me something valuable: how to understand people, how to observe details, how to adapt quickly, and how to appreciate aesthetics and structure. Interior design, in particular, shaped the way I see color, pattern, and space—skills that quietly laid the groundwork for the artist I would eventually become.
Art, meanwhile, was always my refuge. It was the place I returned to whenever I needed clarity or grounding. In 2014, during a time when I when I felt at my lowest, I finally listened to the call and took the leap of faith to do painting full‑time. I had been accumulating wallpaper and fabric samples from my last job in interior design. I really wanted to recycle, or should I say “upcycle”, them, so I started incorporating wallpaper and fabric samples to “dress” my subjects. Constant experimentation led me to paint directly on fabric and eventually on area rugs. The pre-existing patterns in these materials felt symbolic—like visual reminders of the layers we all carry, of the complexity of life and what lays beyond what the eyes see—and working on these unconventional surfaces felt deeply authentic to me.
As the years passed, my work evolved into the mixed‑media figurative style I’m known for today. Every career I held before becoming an artist contributes to my practice now: the resilience I learned in aviation, the eye for detail and texture from interior design and makeup artistry, and the ability to reinvent myself when life takes unexpected turns. Looking back, it’s clear that each experience was preparing me for this path. Becoming an artist wasn’t a sudden leap—it was the natural culmination of a lifetime spent learning, exploring, and finally choosing the thing that makes me feel most alive.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, as I’m sure is the case with so many artists. Becoming a full‑time artist meant stepping into a life without the stability I was used to, and that alone came with a lot of uncertainty. In the beginning, I had to learn everything at once—how to find my artistic voice and develop my style without any training, how to run the business side of being an artist, and how to trust that the path I chose would unfold the way it needed to. There were moments of self‑doubt, times when finances were tight, and days when I questioned whether I was doing the right thing. Oh, and of course, a good dose of “impostor syndrome” that sometimes still appears to this day. But each challenge pushed me to grow in ways I wouldn’t have otherwise, and I don’t let them stop me when new ones appear.
In this last year, I’ve had to overcome the traumatic loss of my mother and the lack of inspiration I felt as I navigated the grief. Thankfully, with the help of therapy, I’m now in a better place and I’m finding ways to celebrate her through my art as well.
One of the biggest ongoing struggles has been balancing my creative time with all the administrative tasks that come with being an artist. Marketing, networking, managing commissions, staying active online—it can easily overshadow the actual act of creating. Another challenge has been finding the right audience for my work, especially since many of my pieces are large‑scale and require collectors with both the space and the appreciation for this kind of art.
Over time, I’ve learnt that I can’t be deterred by what life throws at me and I keep developing the muscle of resilience day by day. My focus is on staying grounded, keep showing up for myself and others, and trust that the universe has my back as long as I keep painting and putting love into everything I do.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work centers around large‑format figurative paintings created on unconventional surfaces like fabrics and area rugs. I’m a mixed‑media artist, and I love weaving the preexisting patterns of these materials into my images. Those patterns feel like a visual metaphor for life’s layers—our histories, cultures, and experiences all blending together. Over the years, my practice has evolved from traditional canvas to wallpaper, fabric, and eventually rugs, which offer endless possibilities in texture, scale, and storytelling. I’m known for celebrating diversity and the beauty of perfectly imperfect individuals, and for creating pieces that feel deeply personal, both to me and to the people who collect them.
I’m proud of many moments in my career, from exhibiting in the United Arab Emirates in 2021 and 2022 to receiving ArtPrize’s Artista Latina award twice and the Public Vote for 2‑D in 2023 and creating meaningful commissioned pieces like the large custom painting for Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo—a work that even incorporated earth and foliage from his childhood home to honor his roots.
Over the years, my practice has continued to evolve and so has the reach of my work. I’m grateful to serve as an artist‑in‑residence at the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society since 2018, with my studio on the 3rd floor of the History Fort Lauderdale Museum open to the public.
What sets my work apart is my use of unconventional materials, layered symbolism, and a commitment to authenticity. My art is meant to uplift, inspire, and spark connection, and every piece I create is rooted in the joy, healing, and need for human connection that inspired me to take the leap of faith into the artist I am today. Whether I’m working in my museum studio or late at night at home, my goal is always the same: to create pieces that carry meaning, celebrate our shared humanity, and invite viewers to look beyond what the eyes see. Also, I welcome commissions of original pieces and love working with my collectors to create unique meaningful artwork for their spaces, something many artists aren’t open to. I relish the opportunity and welcome the challenge.
From October 2026 through April 2027, you will be able to see many large pieces of my artwork displayed throughout the Miami Aventura Hilton hotel in Florida as I have been chosen to be their featured artist during that time. I encourage you to stop by if you are in the area!
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
For me, finding mentors and building a strong network has always started with simply showing up. I’ve learned that when you consistently participate in local art events, exhibitions, and community gatherings, you naturally meet people who share your passion. Some of the most meaningful connections in my career came from casual conversations at openings, workshops, or even while visiting other artists’ studios. Being present, being curious, and being genuinely interested in others creates a kind of momentum — people remember you, they introduce you to others, and doors begin to open in ways you couldn’t plan for.
I’ve also found that mentorship doesn’t always look like a formal relationship. Sometimes it’s an artist who shares a piece of advice at the right moment, a gallery owner who believes in your work, or a fellow creative who encourages you to try something new. Staying engaged online has helped too; social media has connected me with people I never would have met otherwise, including collectors and collaborators. What’s worked best for me is approaching networking with authenticity rather than strategy. When you show up as yourself, support others, and stay open to new experiences, the right people tend to find you — and you find them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artbyflorencia.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbyflorencia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artbyflorencia/
