We were lucky to catch up with Lale Gerger recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lale, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
The new year is traditionally a time to review the previous year to chart a better one, but this question prompted me to look back even further. Being an artist, colors are my primary vehicle to express myself so I can describe my journey as a colorful mosaic, highlighted by resilience through life-altering experiences. While exploring my purpose, I returned to my roots, where I began acting and teaching in Turkey after earning my theatre degree at UCLA. My focus at that stage was solely on my career; the notion of parenthood hadn’t even crossed my mind. However, fate had a different plan. While volunteering, I met my son, sparking an extraordinary journey in child advocacy. The day I met my son was a turning point, propelling me into a legal battle to become the first single person in Turkey to adopt, reshaping laws and my life forever. My son is still my proudest accomplishment.
Returning to the United States with a child in hand, my career path transitioned through nonprofits into Human Resources, blending my passion for service with leadership growth. However, adversity struck as I struggled with my health, and then heartbreak when my mother faced cancer. Amidst caregiving and professional responsibilities, art found me again. I started creating miniature worlds in lanterns, finding that I could protect these worlds from tragedy. I, also, started painting and the colors I used became an extension of my being.
Struggles in life continued but in the quiet moments, I realized that by focusing on my passions in a new way, my art hobby had blossomed into a small business. I was amazed when someone liked one of my creations enough to take it into their home to look at every day! This still amazes me every time.
Then more setbacks for all of us. COVID19. The pandemic’s upheaval led to job losses and as I looked for work in panic, I also noticed all my distress would disappear in the moments when I created. We may not always be able to keep tragedy away but sometimes out of tragedy can come a greater hope. After losing my job three times during the pandemic, I decided to make art my full-time job since my heart had already made it so.
It took some events in life, posing as tragedies, to find my way back into the arts. My drive to persist in finding joy in adversity, coupled with empathy nurtured during my formative years working at a crisis center, shaped my purpose. Every decision I make, be it in life or my art, is through this lens; it fuels my purpose to create meaningful art and connect emotionally. Resiliency has become my fortitude, fueling optimism even amidst challenges.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am Lale Gerger, an artist impassioned by my vision to share what I see and impact our world positively while sustaining a business through art. My story is woven with diverse experiences, from acting in Turkey to child advocacy and a career journey through HR. Amidst personal struggles, caring for my ailing mother, art emerged as my sanctuary, evolving into a business amid adversity.
Today, I live through these three words. Art. Passion. Love.
My work encompasses a wide variety of expressions, ranging from colorful acrylic paintings, the drippings from these paintings that go intricately into the jewelry I make to the sacred places in my three-dimensional miniatures. Colors are my words for emotion, avenues to explore the interplay of light and shadow, evoking emotions and revealing the intricate layers within us.
Every stroke in my art reflects my profound mission to evoke emotions and stimulate introspection. I delve into various techniques, from the fluidity of abstract art to the meticulous detail of pen & ink. You will find fantasy worlds on some of my canvases, inviting viewers to explore the multifaceted aspects of the human experience. I strive for my art to be an immersive experience, a bridge between the external world and our innermost emotions.
I started my painting journey through fluid art but now I use many different techniques to share what I see in our world. Using fluid art as a background and drawing over it can sometimes bring simple activities into focus. An example of this would be my painting Holding Hands.
Pen & Ink, which my mother was amazing at, is another expression that I’m exploring. It can create details that fluid art just cannot. Some examples of this can be seen in SilkScreen, Grief, Butterflies, and Zen Circle.
I’m also intrigued by creating fantasy worlds that you can see in some of my works such as A Different Time, Windmills, and a piece I recently completed called Building Bridges.
My painting Reflection of the Blue Heron and my biggest painting at over 5ft, Flying Free shows how my art continues to evolve.
With that said, using color to evoke feelings or to depict the various personas we have within ourselves continues to be a major focus. My piece, Layers, explores this depth within each person. I’ve worked in the theatre, nonprofits, workforce development, human resources, and now work as a visual artist. Moreover, I have never met a human being who is only good at one thing or has only one characteristic. We are all made from different layers. It does not matter if you want to call it pivots, resiliency, or just a choice; discovering the possibilities in us is endless, limited only by one’s imagination.
One of my most cherished works has turned into a series of paintings called Shine Your Light. This collection’s message is highlighted in the painting, “Be the Sun in Someone’s Darkness”. It is so easy to give hope, to shine a light for someone but we don’t do it nearly enough, so this series was meant to be a reminder for all of us to share our light. The Gainesville Fine Arts Association presented me with the Award of Excellence for this piece. I was both honored & humbled, but mostly grateful that it was for this one as its message lives deep in my heart. Others that are included in this series are, Light from Darkness, Starfish, Sunrise, Eye of the Universe, and Shine Your Light.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Resilience, empathy, and a drive to positively impact the world are my guiding qualities. Cultivating these qualities transcends learning; it stems from embracing diverse experiences and actively listening to oneself and others. International travels during my formative years cultivated my empathy, broadening my understanding of cultural nuances and enriching my artistic expression.
My advice to those early in their journey would be to find the qualities that resonate with you the most and embrace the people who you believe already embody those qualities. And listen much more.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My parents embodied resilience and I’d like to believe that some was passed on to me. My mother was the most selfless person I have ever known. She moved to Turkey in the early 1960s after marrying my father who is Turkish. She had never been out of the country, but she was truly multicultural. She taught me more about Turkey & diverse cultures than anyone else. My mother was a lifelong learner. She finished her BA degree in Turkey, in Turkish! Later in life, she earned her master’s degree and was an ESOL teacher for decades. She was also an incredibly gifted artist herself. Her pen & ink drawings were amazing. I have them on my website; a way for me to honor her.
My father always taught me to be myself & believe that I can do anything I want. He is the most optimistic person I know, sometimes to a fault but that is probably where I get my optimism from so, I’m grateful for this quality in him. He also showed resilience by moving to America in 1955 and working FT, taking care of his family, and earning his master’s degree from NYU all at the same time. His career took us to Turkey, Michigan, England, Mexico, and back to the US. Growing up in so many countries was by far the best education I could have ever received. With that said, formal education was always quite important in our lives. My son received his master’s degree a couple of years ago, so I was the only person without one. At my advanced age, I changed that on December 15th, 2023, by graduating with my master’s degree in management from the University of Florida.
My parents, with their multicultural perspectives and unwavering support, instilled in me the value of education, resilience, and the belief that nothing should hinder one’s pursuit of dreams.
My current challenge lies in bridging the gap between personal connections forged at art shows and establishing a robust online presence. Creating connections in person is easier for me so I continue to try and find ways to connect with people online. Simultaneously, and not surprisingly, the dream of owning a gallery resonates deep within me, a space where art serves as a conduit for meaningful connections and shared experiences. While I was receiving my master’s degree, I was exposed to Arts in Health. Exploring this emerging frontier has also piqued my curiosity, propelling me to reimagine the healing potential of artistic expression.
My parents, the bedrock of my life, epitomized selflessness, cultural diversity, and boundless optimism. Their legacy fuels my creativity and shapes my artistic identity. Through this foundation, I am confident that I will continue to overcome challenges and create connections through my art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artbylale.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Art.by.Lale/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artbylale/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalegerger/