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What inspired you to create art and become an artist? (events, feelings, experiences...)
I grew up with creativity and artistic expression in my family. My mom painted, my aunt and uncle were an artist and a writer, and my grandma was a journalist, and so on. I was encouraged by both my mom and dad, as well as my grandma, to truly nurture my talent.
What is your artistic background, the techniques and subjects you have experimented with so far?
When I was younger, I primarily focused on drawing. I often created portraits or landscapes, among other things. I also painted with watercolors but was quite cautious with using colors because I found it challenging.
What are the 3 aspects that differentiate you from other artists, making your work unique?
It is difficult to answer this myself... Ideally, it should be others who can make such an interpretation justly. I prefer not to compare myself with others; instead, I primarily focus on my own need and desire to create and to be honest in what I do and my mode of expression. I am untrained from a formal standpoint but consider myself to be 'schooled in life.' This is reflected in how I use colors, materials, and composition in my works. There are no 'right or wrong,' only intuition and creative force, and that can never be 'wrong.' In this way, it becomes 'honest creation' and therefore 'true expressions' in my artworks.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I am inspired by details in everyday life, such as colors and external impressions, but I am convinced that what I express in my works is an inherent dialogue that I find difficult to put into words. It just happens spontaneously and intuitively, and it is inspiring, like a kind of mental yoga while I am creating.
What is your artistic approach? What visions, sensations or feelings do you want to evoke in the viewer?
I love abstract painting and expression, where there is no 'right or wrong.' I create intuitively and spontaneously, so there is no 'right or wrong' in the interpretations that viewers make of my artworks. It's like a silent dialogue between me, the artwork, and the viewer with no beginning or end, both emotionally and visually, and it's truly incredible. Abstract art is the most democratic form of painting because the final result is determined collectively by me, the artwork, and the viewer. I find it the most honest form of painting. My desire is to convey a sense of Harmony, Love, Optimism, Hope for the Future, and Symbiosis to the viewer, a feeling that through my works they have also found a missing piece in their life that they couldn't put into words.
What is the process of creating your works? Spontaneous or with a long preparatory process (technical, inspiration from art classics or other)?
I paint intuitively and spontaneously, which means a painting can be finished in a few hours or take several months. I only know it's finished when I have nothing more to add, and when I feel that we are speaking 'the same subconscious language.
Do you use a particular work technique? if so, can you explain it?
I paint almost all of my paintings mostly lying on a table or on the floor, which helps me lose perspective and allows intuition and spontaneity to be the main methods. I often rotate the painting during the process and sometimes hang it partially on the wall. (I almost never use an easel.) Additionally, I usually use scrapers, sponges, or my hands, as well as household tools like kitchen utensils, etc.
Are there any innovative aspects in your work? Can you tell us which ones?
Lately, I've started blending acrylic and water much like watercolor to create depth and dimensions in the expression of my paintings. Additionally, I frequently incorporate resin and epoxy in some of my pieces, and stainless steel for frames in my latest works, which adds a striking and modern touch.
Do you have a format or medium that you are most comfortable with? if yes, why ?
I love acrylic and aerosol; the fact that they dry quickly leaves me less room to hesitate and allows me to be spontaneous, which I really enjoy.
Where do you produce your works? At home, in a shared workshop or in your own workshop? And in this space, how do you organize your creative work?
I paint in a home studio, but eventually, I'll need a much larger space as I aim to create even larger-scale works in the future. The advantage of having a workshop at home is that I can paint whenever I want—morning, day, evening—and therefore, I paint almost daily, which I believe is the foundation for development and constantly discovering new expressions.
Does your work lead you to travel to meet new collectors, for fairs or exhibitions? If so, what does it bring you?
In recent years, thanks in part to social media, I've found most of my buyers and collaborators abroad. I've created rugs with an interior design company in LA, illustrations for a book with an American author, and also collaborated with poster companies abroad that have sold my works as posters to many different countries. Through this, I've also found buyers for my paintings, which is absolutely wonderful.
How do you imagine the evolution of your work and your career as an artist in the future?
In the future, I envision having more places to create in, traveling between them to gather impressions. I also have an inherent desire and a fun challenge that my works will hang in most countries around the world in one way or another. Even countries I may not have been to myself or have time to visit—it's like sending out a piece of myself in that way, like small messengers with my thoughts and feelings that are accepted and appreciated by those who purchase and enjoy my expressions. It's a fantastic feeling and incredible motivation in my creative process.
What is the theme, style or technique of your latest artistic production?
My latest works are a collection of monochromatic pieces created through a combination of techniques I've used before along with new elements. I paint abstract monochromatic motifs using acrylic and water in multiple layers on canvas, which is then stretched over a wooden frame with a plywood backing for stability. Afterward, I apply several layers of resin/epoxy to the artwork, creating a fantastic sheen that almost 'encapsulates' the painting, akin to icing on a cake. Additionally, I mount stainless steel frames on the sides. These paintings take about a month to create and are quite heavy, but incredibly beautiful and modern in their expression.
Can you tell us about your most important exhibition experience?
Last year, I participated in a digital exhibition at Times Square in Manhattan with an online gallery. Two out of three exhibited works have now been sold to the same city... one to Manhattan and one to Brooklyn, but through completely different entities. I find that incredibly exciting.
If you could have created a famous work in the history of art, which one would you choose? And why ?
The Rothko Chapel is an incredibly fascinating artwork that gives such a unique character to the place and to its viewers, a piece of art that somehow 'is' the place... I haven't actually been there myself yet but plan to visit in the future. Having the opportunity to create something enduring like that for the public would be absolutely incredible.
If you could invite one famous artist (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be? How would you suggest he spend the evening?
I would like to spend this time with Mark Rothko, who fascinates me in so many ways with the creations he produced. We would be in his studio, and I would get to see how he worked, and perhaps paint something together. What an amazing experience that would have been.
Olimpia Gaia Martinelli 
