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Ariel Cohen
I’m an artist living and working in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles.
Artist: Ariel Cohen
Based in Tarzana, CA, USA
Instagram:
arielcohen_art
Website:
Culturally Arts Collective features:
"Dream Living", April 25th - June 3rd, Milostka Center for Exhibitions
What do you aim to say by the themes in your art?
I aim to express myself authentically and reflect my experiences in the world through my art. For me, being true to myself and exploring themes that resonate with my own humanity provides an opportunity for viewers of my work to also reflect on/process their own experiences in their own lives.
Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from my daily life-- an interaction with a significant person in my life, an experience watching some events unfold in the world, or my own process of meditating and reflecting on themes that I see coming up in my life. I take these daily life experiences and then I synthesize a message from them, which helps direct me toward what I would like to infuse into my next art piece.
Do you have experiences that impacted your art?
Do you feel your art challenges existing barriers?
Absolutely. My art is all about authenticity and truth. We live in a world today that questions truth, undermines it, and sometimes seeks to disconnect people from truth. If even one person benefits from my art as a conduit to their own authenticity and truth, then I feel proud of what I have accomplished.
What are your long-term artistic goals?
My long-term artistic goals are to scale up in the size and scope of my work. Currently, my time is somewhat limited with the balance of running a psychotherapy practice and managing family obligations as a young father. I wouldn't trade it for the world, but I do look forward to my time eventually opening up so I can dedicate myself to some larger projects. In the interim, I am very proud of the small-to-medium scale works I've created in the last several years.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists?
Be patient with yourself, and don't give up. I remember watching a short video done by Ira Glass, who created the famous podcast This American Life. He said something along the lines of, "creatives go through a number of years knowing they have really good taste, but their work isn't living up to their expectations. A lot of people give up at that point. But if you just keep working and don't give up, you'll get there." I completely agree, and I hope that advice helps others as much as it helped me.
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