We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lia Zuvilivia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lia, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
Growing up in a small town and later moving to big cities like Buenos Aires, Paris, and ultimately New York has significantly altered my perspective, influencing my confidence, sense of belonging, and self-esteem, all of which continue to reshape and evolve. But even in moments when confidence drops, I keep working, reading, talking to friends, and writing, and little by little, the viewpoint shifts, and new ideas begin to surface.
I remember one time when I went to pick up my rejected paintings and found out that they were all glued together. I had recently discovered asphalt paint and fallen in love with it; the rich browns and depth of the paint were so incredible. Of course, I was eager to show my best! I painted nonstop, the morning of the deadline I packed them up and sent them off, very proud! In my mind, they were the best paintings I have ever done! Unfortunately and evidently, asphalt paint takes a long time to fully dry, and my amazing paintings ended up forming a heavy, leather-like block impossible to split apart. I laughed at the moment but I was ashamed, too, it showed my inexperience with the material and marked a missed opportunity!
Through years of therapy, meditation, and practicing Reiki along with other healing modalities, I have been learning to identify emotionally charged moments and challenging situations as opportunities for growth. This shift in perception has changed how I see myself, transforming feelings of not belonging and strangeness and embracing them with greater compassion—both for myself and for others.
And I have amazing kids and friends in my life whose love and support motivate me to keep going. They lift my spirits during tough times, bringing joy, encouragement, and valuable perspectives on my work. Their belief in me fills me with confidence and serves as a powerful reminder that my efforts are not just for myself but for all of us.
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?
I have always had a restless mind and a deep longing and connection with something greater than myself. Thoughts about existence and the meaning of this thing called ‘life’ like Price said, coupled with dreams of becoming an artist and a teacher, shaped my early years. I don’t know where the idea came from, but I’ve followed this path ever since, a transformative journey at all levels.
During college, I used lots of colors and complex compositions, they were great, but it often felt like I was hitting a wall, preventing me from reaching what I was truly seeking. I started to explore new possibilities and different materials. Then, an accident occurred. I broke a ligament in my right shoulder, my dominant hand, which left me unable to paint for nearly a year. Art is a force and a necessity. It pushed me to find a way to paint again. So, I put a canvas on the floor, grabbed a long paintbrush and black paint, and moved my whole body, carrying my arm and hand along to make a mark on it. The experience of witnessing what was unfolding and how I was connecting with what was happening on the canvas was awe-inspiring; an oval shape appeared.
I’ve worked with the oval shape and its endless possibilities for over two decades. Questioning the meaning of using this particular shape and repeating it—even with different media—has been essential in the evolution and growth of myself and the artwork. It acts as a mantra, more like a koan, posing questions, stretching the options, collapsing, and opening up new possibilities. It is endless.
Two or three years ago, I had an experience similar to when I was injured, but not as seriously tough. I couldn’t relate to oil paint anymore. The smell and fumes were too overwhelming, so a friend recommended using casein paint, which is water-based, and I fell in love with it. This shift in the medium was not just about the materials but reflected a significant internal shift. It was a shift in perspective, a new way of seeing and experiencing myself and practice as an artist.
It took me some time to learn how to use casein paint, and of course, this change affected the work, but observing how I approached this shift was so revealing. It made me reflect on my response to not knowing how to paint in the way I was used to; it was exhilarating and uncomfortable. The new works that emerged took me a while to process; I was uncertain how to respond to them.
Seeing the work, reacting to it, and reflecting on it are not separated but a reflection of each other. It is a practice that is intrinsically connected and evolving in sync. This interconnectedness is a participatory dialogue about the artwork, the creative process, and internal inquiries. It’s a whole process: the art informs and reveals, and the practice deepens in knowledge and growth. This ongoing dialogue is not just meaningful but essential.
Investigating the interconnections between content, materials, and response is a commitment as an artist and teacher. It has to do with perception; it is evolutive. The questions are not isolated; they form a net of interconnectedness, blurring the lines between artistic, healing, and spiritual practices. This interconnectedness is at the core of my approach to art and life.
Teaching brings me immense joy, especially when my students’ faces light up. I have focused on teaching early childhood for more than fifteen years and working with adults independently. I know what this experience is for me; connecting with lines and colors is profound. Many times, when I see a finished piece, I don’t even recognize it as mine. It’s truly extraordinary, and I love to share this experience.
I have been developing workshops for adults to explore this dialogue and interconnectedness. The workshops are playful, encouraging participants to explore their creativity in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. I choose flexible and easy-to-manage media, like collage or clay, to explore a technique and the feelings that arise during the creative process.
The discoveries and information that emerge by simply observing how we relate during the process are powerful. They expose our choices, preferences, and aversions, and being impressed by the artwork is empowering. It is an experience that informs at a subtle level. And yes, sometimes it takes years to understand it.
I am very inquisitive about this practice, its internal dialogue, and the expression of the intangible and immaterial through tangible materials.
Questions about where art comes from, how the elements rearrange themselves, and how to serve this process and practice are constantly present. It is a journey where I find and lose myself—It is home.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Having a routine has always been important to me. With time, I’ve learned that routine develops discipline, a powerful tool for personal growth. Growing up in a family that valued hard work and education, I absorbed these principles early on. This upbringing instilled a sense of order that I now sincerely appreciate. And it is through discipline that allows me to persevere and remain open to the unfolding of my work in the studio. I’ve come to see this process and its evolution as intrinsically linked; the work is not only about the inspiration; it is the maintenance and effort in all the surroundings of the work itself. That is the work; even if I cannot be in the studio, how to engage and respond to each component is a crucial aspect in the evolution of the work.
Prioritizing projects or jobs that resonate and align with my artistic and healing practice.
Being clear about what is essential for this journey, choosing based on what aligns with the heart.
Teaching art in schools is rewarding and demanding; it is also stimulating and a reminder to always maintain a beginner’s approach and curiosity. Through years of practice, I have come to recognize their challenges as reflections of my own, allowing me to guide them effectively while continuing to learn from them.
Meditating and other healing practices have been transformative. They’ve taught me a lot about myself, my belief system, patterns, and the unnecessary burdens we often carry. The most important lesson they’ve imparted is the value of patience and humility. It takes these qualities to sit and observe, to detach from our feelings of rejection or acceptance, and to be more compassionate toward ourselves and others. This practice has nurtured a sense of confidence and self-esteem that is untethered by ego drive and has brought a calm and reflective quality to my life.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
We didn’t have many resources, and although I didn’t experience the scarcity of resources as unpleasant, it taught me to make the most of what I had; less is more! I would spend hours drawing and playing with flowers and branches. I inherited my father’s curiosity and my mother’s ability to create with whatever was at hand to entertain myself.
I was an introverted and isolated child. I sense that my parents didn’t know how to connect with me, but they never objected to my passion for art or my need for alone time. Books became my companions, opening up worlds to explore and providing knowledge and perspectives that I could grasp with my fingertips.
This upbringing has profoundly shaped and informed my work, inspiring me to look for alternatives beyond the immediate or conventional, using the available materials and those that come my way. It’s a need that arises—a force that drives me to find paths and solutions that resonate with me. I strive to express this experience of the immaterial using materials with a single shape that repeats without losing its essence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.liazuvilivia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lia_zuvilivia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liazuvilivia
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lia-zuvilivia-08a421a3/
Image Credits
@calamoonn
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