Artist in conversation: Miranda Greiner
“ Art was always an escape for me. I sought out to be an escapist as much as an artist. ”
Miranda is a self-taught artist based in New York City, predominantly working in painting. Drawn to gestural abstraction, she has been creating in this area for years, initially using charcoal, spray paint, and acrylic. About three years ago, she began painting with oils and found that the dynamic aspects of oils mirror the dynamic aspects of our feelings and ideas. Trained as a psychiatrist, she naturally explores the subconscious and channels this in her creative process. She positions the canvas on the ground and dives in to create, unpremeditated.
Moving freely around the canvas, she uses squeegees, palette knives, and brushes. There is an indescribable release and freedom that comes with this visceral creative process. Words and complex theories cannot quite capture it, yet these abstract depictions are relatable to us all, embodying shared experiences and emotions.
What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique style?
I started drawing at a young age and created a series of my own comic books as a child. Art was always an escape for me. I sought out to be an escapist as much as an artist. Over the years, the selected mediums and my style have evolved amidst my other commitments . For instance, during my medical school training, I had limited time, but a lot of space, so I used spray paint in large-scale.
In terms of subject matter, what themes or motifs do you frequently explore in your work, and what draws you to these topics?
Right now, I am freely painting and let myself create, unpremeditated. Sometimes it’s only after a series of paintings that I recognize a theme or where I am channeling from, whether it’s from memories, a scene in the city, or something I am yearning to see again.
Can you describe the emotions and experiences you aim to convey through your abstract paintings, and how do you hope viewers will relate to them?
I want viewers to find their own meaning and feelings in each work. I struggle sometimes even naming my paintings because I like the neutrality of sans title and allowing each viewer to find their own meaning.
In what ways do you believe abstract art can serve as a bridge to the subconscious, both for the artist and the viewer?
This is a challenging question, just by the nature of subconscious versus consciousness. Even unpremeditated works stem from something conscious but I believe that we can release something underneath or within through the creative process that is not yet conscious until it takes form on the canvas. As an artist, there is the indescribable release and freedom in abstractionism. For the viewer, we all share similar feelings and internal states, and I believe we can be connected through images and forms. Fernando Pessoa, a Portuguese poet, has a statement that is relevant, “Forms are ideas. Beautiful forms are new ideas to the world.”
Can you share a particular piece that holds special meaning for you and explain the creative process behind it?
The piece “Nostalgia” holds special meaning.. After creating this piece, I reflected on a memory with my father–eating watermelon with him and my siblings one summer evening and scents of freshly mowed grass. I did not intend to create something from this specific memory but I experience this vividly each time I look at this piece.
How do you incorporate feedback from critics and audiences into your artistic practice, and how do you balance this feedback with your own artistic intuition?
I have yet to experience this! I am sharing my art with others for the first time and I look forward to evolving and incorporating feedback.
How do you stay motivated and inspired despite any setbacks or creative blocks you may encounter?
I am not a full-time artist just yet, so I do not have enough dedicated time to experience creative blocks. Rather, I often experience a creative “cage” of sorts where I have many urges to paint but I must contain these and fulfil my other commitments.
How do you feel about exhibiting your artworks with The Holy Art Gallery?
I am thrilled and grateful for this opportunity. The Holy Art Gallery staff have been incredible and I’m already connecting to others in the art community in a way that I did not expect.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
My long-term goal and aspiration is to be able to create art full-time! I plan to continue sharing my work with others and building a community.
What role does emotion play in your creative process, and how do you aim to evoke specific feelings or reactions from those who view your artworks?
Each painting is influenced by whatever state I am in that moment. Although I may channel certain emotions into the creative process, I want each viewer to experience the composition for themselves, in their own meaningful way.
