Meet Peter Polyak

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Peter Polyak a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Peter, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

My optimism is born from the act of creating itself. Every time I face a blank canvas, I’m reminded that emptiness is not an absence — it’s a possibility. From a single line, color, or sound, a whole new world can emerge. That miracle keeps me certain that no matter how heavy life feels, something meaningful can always be shaped from it.

I also draw optimism from observing symbols that rise in my work without planning — they remind me that we are connected to something larger than ourselves, a current that keeps flowing whether or not we see it. Trusting that current gives me hope.

Optimism for me isn’t naïve; it’s a discipline of looking into the unknown and believing that transformation is always possible.

For me, optimism is not only an angle through which I look at life — it is a anchor, a lifeline I hold onto. It fuels me when everything else feels uncertain, and I pass that same energy into my artworks as a message and as my own source of strength.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

It’s fascinating to live two parallel lives. One is luxury real estate videography — directing, shooting, and editing award-winning content for realtors, developments, small businesses and corporates. This work takes me across the States, and also to Mexico and Europe, keeping my spirit open and communicative while working with teams or sometimes alone, creating polished films that help sell extraordinary homes., businesses and document corporate events.

The other is my studio life — alone with decades of experience, yet always wrestling with the fear of falling behind in fine art. Here, creation isn’t commercial but meditative: a fight for growth, for mastery, and for absorbing life itself through painting.
Having open studio nights during each monthly exhibition opening at Miami International Fine Arts keeps the connection alive between viewers and my art — just as being represented by galleries in Miami, such as Mondo Arte and Gato Gordo, does.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

A solid foundation of craft – Early on, it was essential to master the fundamentals at an unquestionable level. Without that, creativity stands on shaky ground and rarely survives the test of time.

Commitment to creating, not just practicing – After a certain stage of preparation, the real growth doesn’t come from more exercises, but from doing the work. Every piece created carries the training within it and pushes you further than endless practice ever could.

Flexibility and self-knowledge – With time, I learned to see how my plans change and to embrace the power of flexibility. Instead of crashing into the walls of fixed expectations, this openness allowed me to build continuously — as an artist and as a person.

My advice: Study until the basics are second nature, then create fearlessly. Trust that your training is already inside the work, and let flexibility guide you through the inevitable shifts of your path.

And let’s be very honest: ignoring these criteria is lying to ourselves. Honesty is not optional — it is essential.

How would you describe your ideal client?

For me, the ideal client is someone who has their own vision of what they want, but who also truly trusts the person they choose to bring it to life. That trust allows for a real collaboration — where their idea and my expertise meet and create something stronger than either could alone. This is true in painting as much as in videography.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

1: At the Gallery – Photo by PolyakArt / 2: With Billy Nash working on his TV show on Queen Mary 2 – photo by Tracy Nash / 3: Mifa Artists Awarded by Doral Mayor Christi Fraga – photo by MIFA / 4: With Sir Daniel Winn at his Gallery and my sister – photo by Winn Slavin Gallery / 5: A moment of break at work – Photo by Thibault Daniel / 6: Polyak with airbrush – photo by MIFA / 7: “The Poor Boy and The Noble Girl, Oil and Acrylic on 2 canvases – Photo by PolyakArt / 8: Peter Polyak Exhibition Opening at Aston Martin Tower, left to right: Polyak, Natalie Brabner, Mayor Francis Suarez and Mayor Jose Pepe Diaz – Photo by Zoltan Present

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