Meet Sima Schloss

We were lucky to catch up with Sima Schloss recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sima, so excited to have you with us today and we are really interested in hearing your thoughts about how folks can develop their empathy? In our experience, most folks want to be empathic towards others, but in a world where we are often only surrounded by people who are very similar to us, it can sometimes be a challenge to develop empathy for others who might not be as similar to us. Any thoughts or advice?

Two main conditions helped me grow my empathy:

Exposure to diverse people and learning from those with lives, backgrounds, and perspectives unlike my own taught me to listen deeply and see beyond my own experiences.

Personal struggle – Living with Dermatillomania (a compulsive skin-picking disorder that causes real physical and emotional pain), made me understand vulnerability on a deeper level. Realizing others also carry hidden challenges helped me connect with their pain and build genuine compassion.

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’m a gestural figurative artist who explores the complexity of the human spirit through layered drawings, collage, and mixed media. My work focuses on inner emotional worlds rather than outward appearance.

My current series, Domina, is inspired by the empresses of ancient Rome — women often judged too simply as “good” or “bad.” By layering translucent materials like vellum and mylar, I reveal their strength, vulnerability, and complexity, while connecting their stories to ideas of identity and power today.

What excites me most is turning personal and historical stories into visual narratives that invite empathy and reflection. I recently presented Domina in my first solo show in New York City and am now creating new works and planning future exhibitions.

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?

1.Persistence & resilience – Art careers (and any creative paths) are full of rejection and uncertainty. The most impactful skill is

Learning to keep going, even when things feel discouraging.

My advice: Apply for everything, show up consistently, and try to think of the word ” No” as “Not yet.”

2. Curiosity & continuous learning – Staying open to new ideas, materials, histories, and perspectives keeps your work growing.

Go beyond your comfort zone — Ask questions, Try new materials, try new things.

3. Communication & community building – Build genuine relationships. Share your process, support others, attend events,

and stay in touch. Authenticity builds trust and lasting opportunities.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

If I only had one decade left, I’d keep living exactly as I am — creating, traveling, meeting new people, and taking risks. I’d keep saying yes to experiences that make life meaningful.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photo Credit:
Charli Anderson
Lizzy Alejandro

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