We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Patricia Gagic. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Patricia below.
Hi Patricia, 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?
Memories show up which sometimes really surprise me. I remember being 4 years old and had this incredible obsession with drawing… mostly Elizabethan ball gowns. No idea, where this came from, but the pen and pencil became my candy. As the years went by I developed an incredible desire to become a figure skater. I owned blue skates. My fear of “flipping” was further indulged when I became a gymnast and tried for four years to accomplish aerial cartwheels. Finally in grade 11 it happened. The moment of truth… I could do this if I persevered and ignored the screaming monkey in my head. It was then I realized I could accomplish things if I let go of the voice inside my head.
I lost two of the most important persons in my life before I was 19. When I turned 21 I was living in Saskatchewan in one of the most amazing little communities on the planet. However, my intense curiosity and disregard for my abilities pushed the envelope and I had a major accident on the trans Canada Highway… not in a vehicle, but on a race horse. I survived.
My audacity was to push the envelope on life. I became a Bank Manager at the age of 25. Desired to change the world with my art and had significant compassion and empathy. My father died shortly after my 25th birthday. He was a man of servitude and I understood his simple beginnings which stirred my desire to help others. This was my purpose.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
In 1999, I began my solo mentorship with Master Artist Dragan Dragic in Savoillan, France. It was my great honor to exhibit with Dragic in Sault, France in 2008 with curation by Jean Pierre Thelcide. In 2007, I was appointed Honorary Commissioner at the 52nd Venice Biennale in support of Transcendental Realism -Art by Adi Da Samraj. and recognized by the International Institute for Arts Accreditation as an International Certified Artist. I am a member of Mondial Art Institute and in 2018 I exhibited at Parallax Art Fairs in London, Chelsea and Kensington UK.
In December 2018, I won the gold medal in photography at the Salon National des Beaux-Arts (SNBA) at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. In 2019, my work was exhibited at the Salons des Indépendants Grand Palais in Paris, the Brussels 3F Art Fair and the World Art event in Cannes. In 2019, I accepted the silver medal in Photography from the Societe Academique Arts, Sciences and Lettres de France in Paris and the Pewter Medal for painting in 2020. In 2023 received the Silver Medal for painting. I was awarded the 2020 Apollo and Daphne award from the Le Bernin – International Biennial of Baroque Art Salentin in Italy, the International Prize New York City in October 2020 in NY. My work has been published in World of Art Contemporary Art Magazine and Contemporary Artists and named one of the Top 10 Contemporary artists.
I like to believe I am an etheric energy leader- founder of the Karmic Art Experience – The Wisdom of Karma merging realism with soul creating The Karmic Art Experience. I have collaborated under the brand Lotus97.7 with percussionist/artist Greg DiFrancesco. In 2021 Patricia began her lifelong love of drumming and is now an active percussionist.
By invitation, my paintings were exhibited at the prestigious Whitney Commons Gallery in Toronto, Ontario in 2018. Art Tour International magazine named me one of the Top 60 best artists in New York in 2018, 2019 and 2020. I was named Artist of the Year 2020 by Art Tour International Magazine. My painting Escape to Reality was displayed on the cover of the summer issue. Also named Artist of the Year 2023 and a Lotus97.7 work is on the cover of the prestigious magazine. I am a Titan award recipient by ATIM with a documentary feature to be released in 2024. I hosted the Art In A Box project for the WXN (Women’s Executive Network) Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada July 2020 and a CAN#150 event for Female Olympians.
In 2017, I received the Arts Excellence Award for Courage and Commitment to Human Rights, Dignity and Freedom from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association in Toronto, awarded to Canadians who dedicate their lives to service and art. I was co-founder and a participant in the Colors of Freedom Art portfolio. Funds were raised to support various organizations, including Round Square schools, Classroom Connections and children effected by 911.
I have been a presenter on world stages to encourage and promote servitude and art and have spoken at the Harvard Club of Boston, on stage at Carnegie Hall in New York and the NASDAQ podium. My painting was exhibited on the NASDAQ Jumbotron in Times Square in NY, when I interviewed Walter O’Brian (Scorpion) on the stage of Carnegie Hall where we discussed the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of art.
Karmic Alibi, was my first book published by Bettie Youngs Books, a finalist at the USA Best Book Awards 2014 and finalist at the International Book Awards 2015 in the Non-Fiction Narrative category. Karmic Alibi received the 2017 Book Excellence Award in Non-Fiction. I am co-author in the Amazon Best Seller Voices of Inspiration with Marlon Smith, RockStar Success stories with Craig Duswalt, Sexy without Boundaries with Hidi Lee, Rock Your Life with Craig Duswalt among others. I am currently working on several other book projects, including “Thirsters and Quenchers”, and two collaborative books, “How to Be Human Again” with Earl Ameen and Dirk and The Black Snowflake with Greg DiFrancesco.
I am a Certified Meditation Specialist / Facilitator completing certification in Applied Mindfulness and Transformative Mindfulness and Mindfulness Without Borders from the Faculty of Social Work Factor Inwentash at the University of Toronto. I am a Level 3 Feng Shui Consultant and Reiki Master. Previously, founder of Kyralex Management Group and MLX Property Management with a successful career in banking and entrepreneurship.
In 2013, I was Knighted as a Dame of the International Order of Saint George Grand Prior of Canada while a member of the Ontario Cabinet of Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. I am presently a member of the Board of Directors of the Sir Edmund Hilary Foundation.
I am very committed to the Rotary Oakville Passport club.
I have received numerous awards and nominations, including Status of Women – Woman of the Year, YMCA Peace Medal, YWCA Women of Distinction, and the Toronto Women’s Expo Award of Excellence, member of the IWF (International Women’s Forum) Toronto Chapter and past member of the Engagement Committee. I received the Lifetime Achievement award as a Woman of Inspiration 2020 for the Universal Women’s Network and currently an ambassador.
I was recognized by WXN (Women’s Executive Network) as one of the TOP 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada and received the BMO Arts and Communication award in 2015. In 2016, I was the recipient of the WXN Top 100 Most Powerful in Canada in the Royal Bank Category Champions, and received the WXN Top 100 award in the BMO Arts and Communications category in 2017. In 2018, I was inducted into the WXN Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada Hall of Fame.
I remain committed to a project I began in 2006 in Cambodia where I participated in building the first Buddhist library at Angkor Wat, Siem Reap. My love for the Cambodian people flourishes through my relationship with Master Keo Ann. Together, we built a school for poor children, an orphanage and a school for monks. I was involved in Boeng Meala, Cambodia creating an innovation house. Currently I am working with Sothany Peung in Village Romeas with a morning school for 50 children and The Reflections Initiative partnering to support girls soccer teams in Nicaragua. The People’s Improvement Organization have also named her an Ambassador.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Persistence, being a converted introvert and flawless focus would be my best qualities.
I believe we all have the ability to make a difference during our journey on the beautiful planet of earth. It is our choices made and responsiveness to these choices which shift our perspective and allow us to fulfill our destiny. The greatest problem we have is to hesitate. When we realize how powerful we become, especially to support others we can make a significant impact. Our leadership skills count.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
There are several persons who have made a significant difference impact in my life. It’s not always those who step up to the plate, sometimes it can be those who have denied you or put you down. However, I have been blessed to have incredible mentors. They only become your mentor when you release your attachment to your ego. If you realize they are your valuable teachers and let them guide you you can master much more.
My father of course was one of my greatest role models. In the banking era, it was Bruce Barry a significant man who saw my value and encouraged me to pursue pushing beyond the Old Boy’s Network back in the early seventies. My husband, Dr. Ned Gagic an impeccable man of great intelligence and encouragement gifted me with a soul push to be all I could imagine. Dragan Dragic, my Maestro in France… the artist extraordinaire and Greg DiFrancesco my art partner (Lotus97.7) and drum teacher.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.patriciakarengagic.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/patriciagagic
- Facebook: facebook.com/patriciagagic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-gagic-594688/
Image Credits
Hannah
