ZARI PHILIPS
"I want my art to make people’s homes feel either serene or joyful"
From the range of neutrals that reflect serenity to vibrant reds full of passion. This is how varied the work of Zari Philips is, who since she was a child showed a love for art. In her paintings we can find several facets of her: her minimalist style with black and white lines, her freshness and joy like the colors of the sky or the waves of the sea, and her taste for fashion and trends that she reflects in daring silhouettes made of vibrant tones.
Did you choose painting as a means of expression? Or do you think that painting chose you?
Maybe a bit of both! My grandma and great grandma were very talented artists and worked with oil paints. My grandma bought me my first set of oil paints and taught me how to paint and mix colors. Although, both my grandma and my great grandma were focused on realism, but that wasn’t my strongest skill. After years of practicing on my own for fun, I found my own joy in abstract painting. I love how abstract work can mean different things for anyone who lays their eyes on it. Whatever I’m feeling in the momentwhether it’s relaxed, happy, sad, nervous, or in love- I like to express that or alleviate it through putting together colors that I love.
How do you describe your style?
“I love the idea of when people stop for a moment in their busy lives to marvel up at the sky when it’s perfectly blue or has a nice sunset”
Your paintings vary from neutral tones to vibrant colors like reds or greens, how do you choose the colors to use?
I choose whatever I feel in the moment, or when I’ve been struck by inspiration through anything in nature or in fashion. If I see a gorgeous cotton candy sky sunset or a runway show where everything is hot pink- I immediately want to try out all the possible pinks to see what looks nice together. In the same way, if I want something more calming and peaceful- I will work with neutral tones and focus on the texture of each stroke of paint, like butter. I do a lot of layering in my work. Most of my paintings have a happy feel, I want my art to make people’s homes feel either serene or joyful.
Has any artist influenced your work?
A few of my favorite artists are Christiane Spangsberg and Flore. Spangsberg does these amazing abstract paintings and one-line drawings. I do some illustrating as well, and her one-line drawings greatly influenced that. You can see so many different pictures within her one drawing, beauty is in the eye of the beholder for her work. Also, I met her during her exhibition in New York and she was so kind and inspiring- I love seeing the personality behind the art. Flore makes these abstract pieces with a million wild colors painted on the canvas- they are so fun and playful and bring so much life to a room.
“I truly believe that anyone can make art, if they do it
with confidence and put genuine emotion into it”
I see you like fashion, how do you relate it to your creations?
Yes! I am also a luxury personal shopper for a big fashion tech company. So I am constantly looking at trends, visiting stores, and shopping for clients. I am very inspired by current color trends in fashions, across the luxury brands, to direct what color palettes I use for my pieces.
For Zari Philips, what is art?
Anything can be art! Anything that anyone creates that makes them feel happy can be considered art. For me- my art form is creating or viewing pieces that evoke some sort of feeling. I want my art to be something that people stop to look at and feel either excitement, joy, peacefulness, passion, or inspiration. But I truly believe that anyone can make art, if they do it with confidence and put genuine emotion into it.
Would you say that your personality is embodied in every painting you do, no matter how different they are from each other?
Yes, definitely. I am generally a pretty joyful and passionate person- I think anyone who knows me would say that- and that’s what I want my art to feel like. I want the colors to bring a light feeling into people’s lives.
What do you want to convey to those who see your work?
I’m really bad at slowing down, but I want to convery the idea that people should take the time to slow down and enjoy things in life. Stop to enjoy the sunset at night, go sit by the ocean to watch the waves, take a moment to look up at the clouds, and wake up to enjoy quiet mornings at home.
Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes mostly from nature, travel, and fashion. In nature, I am inspired by the sky, flowers, and the ocean. In travel, I am inspired by the color palettes of different cities through their buildings and environments. In fashion, I am inspired by the trends that show up in every major brand every season.
How is your creation process?
It depends if I’m painting for myself or if I’m painting a custom piece for a client. For myself, I like to experiment with new designs, new colors, and new techniques to see what is interesting. I love to look at Pinterest, mostly at fashion or travel photos, to get inspired by color palettes. But if I am painting for a client, then I am focused on color matching to any furniture in their home or any images, so that the piece will fit in perfectly with their space.
One of the greatest virtues of the artist and what gives her her personal stamp is her sensitivity. In this chaotic and fast life that we lead, it´s a breath of fresh air to remember the wonders that nature offers us; in the same way that when we find in a painting, the memories of an afternoon with loved ones watching the sunset. Or the salt in the body after a day at the beach. That is what we can find and recognize in the works of Zari Philips.
Entrevista concedida a AGAPHE el 17 de Mayo del 2023