We recently connected with Silvia Poloto and have shared our conversation below.
Silvia, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
My creativity keeps me alive, not the other way around.
I nurture it by showing up for it every day.
It isn’t a practice—it’s a way of being.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a Brazilian-born, San Francisco–based artist, and for almost 30 years I’ve been creating work driven by intuition, curiosity, and emotional honesty. I didn’t begin as an artist—my career started in engineering—but the pull toward creative expression was so strong that it completely rerouted my life. I’ve been making and exhibiting art ever since.
My practice is constantly evolving. I work in series, exploring whatever feels alive in the moment—portraiture, abstraction, mixed media. What excites me most is the transformation that happens in the studio: ideas I didn’t know I had suddenly appear, materials start talking back, and the work takes on its own intelligence. I follow that. I trust it.
People often tell me my pieces make them feel something before they try to understand them, and that’s important to me. My work isn’t meant to be decoded—it’s an invitation to connect, to recognize ourselves in someone else’s experience, to feel less alone.
As for my “brand,” I don’t think of it in marketing terms. What I hope people remember is the sincerity, the emotional resonance, and the sense of possibility in the work. Art has carried me through loss, change, reinvention—through life—and I create with the hope that it offers others a moment of clarity, wonder, or relief.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, three things shaped my artistic journey more than anything else:
1. Intuition
I had no formal roadmap—intuition was my compass. Learning to trust that quiet, internal voice changed everything. For emerging artists, pay attention to what pulls you, even if it doesn’t make logical sense yet. Follow the thread.
2. Resilience
The art world is full of no’s, detours, and long periods of uncertainty. What kept me going wasn’t confidence—it was persistence. Resilience isn’t something you’re born with; it’s strengthened by showing up again and again, even when things feel stuck.
3. Discipline
Creativity isn’t only inspiration—it’s practice. I go to the studio every day, even when I don’t know what I’m doing. Consistency keeps the channel open. For those starting out, build a routine that honors your creativity, however small—fifteen minutes counts.
My advice: stay curious, stay open, and don’t wait for permission. Trust your timing, experiment wildly, and allow yourself to evolve. The journey is long, but it’s yours—and that’s the most exciting part.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is curious, emotionally open, and drawn to art as a way of seeing themselves more clearly. They value authenticity, trust the creative process, and want a real relationship with the artist—not just a transaction.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.poloto.com
- Instagram: @silviapoloto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silviapolotoart
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silvia-poloto-art/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@silviapolotoart
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
