Adria Arch shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Adria, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I think that a lot of people misunderstand what being an artist is all about. It’s much less about talent (that is, knowing how to draw, for example), and much more about a way of living in the world. Artists pay attention to the way life is lived between the lines. We look for the overlooked, we try to understand metaphor, we are tuned in to the world in a more acute way. It’s also possible to be an artist and not make a living at it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an artist who specializes in light weight plastic sculpture that suspends from architecture. My work merges from a deeply physical practice where the studio becomes my playground—part dance floor, part wrestling mat, part science lab. Drawing from years of dance training (and plenty of bruised knees), I approach each piece like I’m choreographing a conversation with gravity itself, using my entire body to generate forms that seem to wiggle their way into existence. Working this way means I’m always a little surprised by what shows up.
I work directly on the floor to cut my shapes because, honestly, that’s where the magic happens. Crouched over 4′ x 8′ sheets of lightweight plastic, arms stretched wide, I let my body remember what it knows about movement and flow. These aren’t precious studio moments—I’m often covered in paint, hair in my face, discovering muscles I forgot I had. The sweeping curves and rhythmic patterns are literal records of me reaching, stretching, sometimes stumbling. The shapes come first. They give me ideas for painting the sculptures, combining flat areas of pure color and spray-painted stencil shapes from repurposed older work.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
The professional artists showing their work in museums taught me the most about being an artist. It showed me that my work had to aspire to way more than what I taught in art school. My work had to be truly original and authentic to me, AND it had to be technically excellent, AND I had to have something to say. What I did not learn from just looking was that there is a whole web of connections that has created a path for that artist to be seen in a particular way that warranted their work being exhibited or collected in a museum.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would say, don’t try to be anyone but who you are. And people DO want to hear what you have to say. You may need to figure out how to be listened to, but once you do, they will listen.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
The truths that are foundational to me include helping others who are less fortunate, listening to children, and having respect for all living things. That means never purposely killing a spider, for example.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I am definitely doing what I was born to do. I can’t imagine not being an artist or a teacher of art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.adriaarch.com
- Instagram: @adriaarch
Image Credits
Will Howcroft
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