Meet Zoe Cinel

We were lucky to catch up with Zoe Cinel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Zoe, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience comes from community. As an immigrant and a chronically ill artist, I faced some hard times in my journey. Having mentors, friends (and books!) around me, has helped me navigate the challenges of visa and the healthcare system. It also taught me what I can do to help others who might be going through similar challenges.

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?

I’m an O1B artist and curator from Florence, Italy. I moved to Minneapolis in 2016 to get my master’s degree from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. During my second year and before graduating in 2018, I started working with a group called CarryOn Homes. CarryOn Homes shares stories of immigration to Minnesota through art and storytelling. The group is currently made up of photographer Shun Yong from Malaysia, social practice artist Peng Wu from China, and myself. You can learn more about us at https://carryonhomes.com/.

In 2019, I started working at the Rochester Art Center, first as Assistant Curator, then as Curator in 2020. Since then, I have curated many exhibitions of contemporary art with a focus on important topics like immigration, healing and cross cultural community building.

One of my biggest projects was a show called “Chronicles of the Chronic” in 2023. This show featured artists from around the world who talked about living with a chronic illness. The exhibition celebrated the creativity and resilience of the artists and their community and built bridges with the healthcare sector. Given the vicinity with Mayo Clinic, I was able to engage doctors and other healthcare workers and foster healing conversations with artists on topics of care, activism and systemic change. https://cinelzoe.myportfolio.com/chronicles-of-the-chronic

Right now, I’m working on a new group show that will open in summer 2025 at the Rochester Art Center. This show will highlight artists from around the world currently living in Minnesota. The artists have all gone through a challenging O1B visa application process and will share their stories and knowledge to connect, heal and empower new applicants.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Resilience, care and proactiveness.

My path hasn’t always been easy. Being an immigrant can be tough and the O1B visa application process is challenging. Getting it takes a lot of resilience and perseverance: you need help from experts and proof that you are an experienced and established artist with newspaper reviews and solo shows. It’s a big deal for creative people who don’t always follow a straight path. My advice to artists who are applying to this visa is: don’t hesitate to ask for what you need! Let’s teach the artistic community how to best support O1B visa artists. Let’s be visible, loud and proud.

Care has been fundamental in my life and artistic practice since I was diagnosed with a chronic illness in 2020. It was a scary time, especially as a young immigrant during a pandemic. But even when things feel overwhelming, my art helps me make sense of challenges. A big part of my practice is about bringing people together. In the project Conversations About Care, for example, participants share their thoughts on care, healing, illness, things that can divide us if we don’t talk about them. This project helped me heal and connect. I like to be proactive about what I can improve, what can I accept, what can I learn, what knowledge can I share with others? The community feedback from the Conversations will be part of new multimedia installation that will be presented at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Gallery in January and February 2025 for the Jerome Early Career Artist Fellowship exhibition. Info about the show here: https://www.mcad.edu/why-mcad/fellowships/mcad-jerome-foundation-fellowships

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?

Friends, chosen family and collaborators have been fundamental in my journey. Working with other artists and activists who share a passion for advocacy has been healing and empowering.

This past year, I have collaborated with Amplify MN: A Disability Justice Collective and other community partners on an exhibition titled “The Art of Disability Justice Now.” This exhibition is free and open to the public until January 5th, 2025, at the Mill City Museum. Through this project and the many talented artists, activists, and community members I’ve encountered, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of disability justice, accessibility, and the importance of finding pride and community within illness. I encourage readers to explore the exhibition and support the remarkable work of Amplify MN: A Disability Justice Collective. https://disabilityjusticeart.com/

Also, working with groups like CarryOn Homes has been a transformative experience. Being all immigrants from different countries, we learn from each other and share stories about making a new home in Minnesota. It’s about finding belonging and feeling supported. We have collaborated for seven years now and in Fall 2025 we will share our journey in a solo exhibition called “Circles of Care” at the Minnesota Museum of American Art in St. Paul. I am excited for this opportunity to reflect on our collective journey and on how this project shaped my personal experience of immigration and growth through the years. https://mmaa.org/circles-of-care/

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photo 1, Credit: Chris Juhn
Photo 2-4 Credit: Zoe Cinel
Photo 5, Credit: Shun Yong
Photo 6-8: Credit: Zoe Cinel

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your