Today we’d like to introduce you to Toni Gallo
Toni, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in the Midwest in Minnesota and always identified with being a visual artist. Leaving briefly for college in California at Humboldt State University, I received a Bachelor of Arts and ended my formal education in Florence, Italy in a painting and art historical program. Since that time I’ve maintained a studio practice, dedicated myself to being a lifelong learner and have been teaching yoga, meditation and awareness practices for over 8 years.
Although, my past has been completely enmeshed with making art, it hasn’t always felt easy or even good. It was roughly 7 years ago that my creative practice completely transformed. It had everything to do with my deep dive into meditation and yogic philosophical study, practice and teaching. The developing habit of awareness, became a beacon of insight allowing me to access and express a liberating and expansive force. This synthesis has given me the ground to share work that serves as a peace break to others and support our collective well being.
I am a painter working with the landscape and figure. The work originates with accessing creativity through meditation and awareness practices. The themes of the work are driven by mysticism, spirituality and the invisible current of the universe connected to everything in existence.
With immense gratitude, I am immersed in the role of artist—an endless source of inspiration, exploring life through art, which transcends our perceived limits.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh my gosh, no, it has not been a smooth road. However, in retrospect, it seems easier to revere the hardships, the path as precisely what was necessary to materialize the current station. Some of the struggles are pretty straightforward and others embedded in the nature of creativity itself. One is very typical, the lack of financial security shared by artists. This one is heavy, it gets into your heart and head and as you get older can be incredibly daunting and destructive. The systems and rules implied and followed in the arts are not only incredibly unhelpful to artists, they are harmful. So many artists have to turn to different careers and abandon their practices. I’ve taken to addressing and speaking up when I can about the unrealistic expectations and demands on artists as well as the irony of artists being the last to be paid in an industry that employs many. I imagine, how many incredible artists with diverse voices and expressions would be contributing to the elevation of well being in their communities if artists were supported through the industry.
There is so much more to this question, but I’ll leave it with this. The gratitude I feel for being an artist and accessing presence through creativity is overwhelming and completely worth it. Yes, it is challenging to navigate all of the material responsibilities and expectations of modern life as a visual artist and it is also who I am at my core and I’ll do what it takes to continue creating and supporting the collective well being and encouraging other artists as well.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Artists manifest and articulate a special current, one rooted in trust of the interior landscape of existence. My paintings are born of an access to the energy of creativity activated with meditation and awareness practices deeply entwined with mysticism and spiritual philosophy.
These practices serve as conduits, bringing forth unique energy that captures moments of consciousness. The resulting artworks vibrate with a profound sense of peace, mimicking a meditative state that, in essence, becomes a component of healing. It is in this light that I persist in creating, sharing, and exhibiting, while researching and experimenting to forge connections and substantiate the inherent power of art.
In my current body of work the landscape is dominant with figurative features flowing in and out suggesting a synchronous vibration. Nature, as the spiritual condition of existence, holds an undeniable power to draw us toward self discovery and peace. The paintings offer an assembly of matter revealing the exquisite design of living, the unobstructed force of nature, conveyed through the strength of suggestion—appearing mystical in its manifestation.
Executed primarily on canvas using acrylic and mixed media, each painting is approached with a minimalist formula, utilizing necessity to create the most resonant suggestion. Employing a variety of paint applications with brushes, palette knives, and drawing tools, I experiment with soundscapes emanating from the artwork, using poetic titles as embellishments. Recent pieces serve as a pause, a break in distraction, displaying a condition of completeness through presence—a sense-making without conscious thought, reflecting our spiritual nature through creative practice.
Reading the question, “What are you most proud of?” leaves me overthinking. If I’m being general, I think all artists are inspiring and so brave with their willingness to sacrifice comfort and certainty to offer connection and expression of the intangible nature of existence. I am grateful to flow in this current. If I’m being specific, looking back at my artistic resume, I am proud of my past solo exhibition at Soo Visual Arts Center; I Can Feel the Truth Somewhere Over There / Here Beyond Further, for pushing myself beyond into creating soundscapes emanating from the paintings and transforming the gallery into an ongoing guided meditation.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I fully embrace the idea that none of us are doing anything alone. I believe when we align with our own nature and trust our vibration we in turn establish deeper trust and respect for those around us and their own unique and powerful experiences and voices. We are a greater force together.
In regards to networking, finding mentors and/or mentoring others, I practice being present enough that when I’m drawn towards someone, feeling connected or experiencing an appeal I respond to it. I’ve gotten really comfortable with being vulnerable and sharing what I do, what I want to do and where I struggle. I am becoming comfortable reaching out for support. Sometimes for a very specific request, however a lot of times it’s less clear… here’s what I’m about, here’s what I see and feel from you, do you have any insight for me? It doesn’t have to be specific content, but rather a connection that is ignited or strengthened and becomes an opportunity to be curious and brainstorm and consider how one of us can support the other or share that support for one another.
Reaching out can be the most powerful part of connecting with someone because when you begin articulating yourself that act alone provides clarity when materializing it into a conversation. There are people all around us having a completely different and unique experience internally and externally with the kind of work that they do, the kind of life they have had and if you are feeling compelled to talk to someone reach out. If you don’t know who to talk to just start sharing your story in the way that you can with the people you know, trust and feel comfortable with. What happens when we just start an action it becomes motion and things start to happen.
Honestly, follow your instincts and what draws you in. What has worked for me is just not being afraid of reaching out, whether I know someone well or not. People are honored when you ask for their expertise or support. There’s just really no harm in asking. When reflecting on the past I’ve noticed that all the successful moments I’ve experienced have been because of relationship and being relational, talking to people, being curious, asking questions and getting to know people. Share your appreciation. becoming relational in your life, expressing what inspires you about others rather than holding it in. It is always very surprising how grateful people are when you celebrate them, which unfortunately, expresses how rare we are sharing complements, lifting one another up acknowledging peoples contributions and thanking them for what they contribute to society.
In essence, we are all experts in different ways and we can really support one another in the empowerment that comes from being truly aligned with our unique nature. It starts with being open, curious and simply reaching out and starting conversations. We all have incredible gifts and insights to share.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tonigalloart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonigalloart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonigallopainting/
