Today we’d like to introduce you to Gena Cohen.
Hi Gena, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
As a kid I was always into the arts, and my family spent five years living in Paris, France one of the creative capitals of the world. After my time in Paris, dance, violin and creative writing were my main creative outlets. However, it was at the age of nineteen that I developed such a strong passion for painting, and I would get beautifully lost in the craft. Truly I just felt so connected with this inner fire within myself when painting a work on the canvas. I also love the idea of legacy, especially authentic and raw legacy. My paintings are time capsules for whatever I am going through in my life – mentally, emotionally, spiritually. They are a way of honoring both what’s going on in the world, as well as in my life. After posting my work on social media, I can gratefully say that I sold over seventy paintings that first year, and it felt amazing to hear how the art that I was creating impacted people.
Fast forwarding six years later, today I work in my studio in Northeast Minneapolis right by the Mississippi river. Nearly every morning I go to the river and just bask at the light on the water. I build my canvases in my studio, create at least two pieces a week, and this is my full time job. It is so rewarding to be working a job that aligns completely with my purpose and passion. It was not an easy leap though. The dream was built, not given to me. To choose to go for this career full time took some mustering of courage, and I had to silence all of the negative voices going on in my own mind as well as those of concerned family members. I am glad that I listened to my heart, and the decision has paid off. Ultimately I realized I have got one life here, so I jumped off the high dive so to speak.
Today I sell my work through ArtGirlsMpls, I just finished a showing in the North Loop, there is another show coming up in Northeast and there is a gallery solo show in Northeast mid 2022. One of my philosophies is that people should not be afraid to boldly take up space, to chase dreams, maybe fall a bit, but to never stop chasing them. There have been so many successful ventures that initially failed and only succeeded because they never stopped pushing – Apple was one of these. That is definitely a philosophy that I live by career wise and beyond.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There was a lot of fear and self doubt that I worked through before making the leap to a full time professional artist. I remember at younger ages really wanting to make this art career work, but there still were some inner beliefs that hadn’t yet been worked through. I thought that I wasn’t talented enough, and I thought that I wouldn’t be able to make it financially with this career. I ended up graduating with a Bachelor of Individualized Studies from the University of Minnesota December of 2020. I hadn’t yet learned just how much words create reality, and I would really diminish my artwork by saying things like “I paint on the side,” or “I paint and sell my work occasionally.”
Everything changed during the summer of 2020. I began to take a year long online program through a family run art school based in Georgia. The two co-owners – mother and daughter have both been professional artists, and the young daughter sold over one million dollars from her art her first year on the job. I could go on about this program, as it truly gave me so much! I learned traditional oil painting, mixed media techniques, I discovered my voice as an artist, and the mother of the school just ignited a fire in my belly that couldn’t be extinguished for making it as an artist. That fire and hunger for realizing a dream is so important I have found in my own career, and they truly help cultivate this at that school. Also, of course an undying love for the craft has kept me devoted to my professional art career even when there are rocky moments. It is a fight sometimes, but I believe in what I am fighting for. For a while I had these dreams, but I just sort of wanted them to be brought to me. I learned that I had to do the work, and i did it. It feels good to be on the path! One of my favorite quotes by Einstein is “Failure is success in progress.”
Studying some of the greats in the art field and seeing what they have overcome has been enormously impactful. I had the incredible opportunity to visit the Georgia O’Keeffe museum in Santa Fe, and I absolutely fell in love with not only her artwork, but her words, and her story. Kandinsky, Van Gogh, Monet, Frida Kahlo Matisse, Degas and Cassatt are some of my favorite artists who have passed on. In terms of living artists, I am deeply inspired by Ai WeiWei, Yoko Ono, as well as Dimitra Milan, Eli Milan, and the artist who actually got me started was Charmaine Olivia.
I would encourage anyone who is wanting to get started in the arts to: be prepared for growth. What I mean by this is that you might start out a bit unpleased with your work. The idea that there are various levels of talent, is not a myth, but an unspoken truth surrounding this myth, is that talent can also be developed. Also when an artist is just starting out, in my opinion copying others work (without really selling but just for practice) can help an artist find their style and hone in on their craft.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Captivated by the blank canvas, I’m drawn to the vast potential of exploration. Today my work, categorized as abstract expressionism, blends vibrant colors, thick textures and found objects. I often incorporate fabric, and mirrors, and copper into my paintings, intertwining these materials with the paint and textured pastes. My process of creating is visceral, cathartic, and intuitive. Now working in Minneapolis, I find daily inspiration in my studio near the Mississippi River, especially how light connects and interacts with the water.
Now I am also learning the guitar and photography – a big part of my work is to always keep alive creative inspiration and connection with the play and magic of it! Additionally, I also create some objective work such as portraits and cityscapes oil paintings.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I am represented by ArtGirlsMpls, and I love everything about this company. Hollie, the owner who is truly a joy to work with is an art concierge, meaning she brings the art to clients for an in home art store experience. She caters a one of a kind experience for her clients, and she backs her artists with a fierce loyalty.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.genacohen.com
- Instagram: @gena.cohen.art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gena.cohen.art
- Other: https://www.artgirlsmpls.com/
Image Credits
Photography by Carleen Olson Photography by Gena Cohen
