We’re looking forward to introducing you to Weriem .. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Weriem, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? When was the last time you felt true joy?
A few days ago, at my Parisian exhibition opening! Throughout the evening, friends from all the cities that shaped me (Tunis, Lille, Boston, Chicago, Paris) arrived one after another. At one point in the evening, two dear friends, one from Chicago and one from Lille, walked into the gallery together. I had no idea they were even in touch, let alone working side by side in Paris that day. I burst into tears from the surprise and the joy!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Weriem, and I’m a French-Tunisian visual artist based in Chicago. I create detailed, emotionally resonant drawings and paintings inspired by theater, history, and the quiet inner worlds we all carry. After a decade designing historically-informed costumes for opera, I transitioned fully into my own studio practice. Before I ever stepped into the art world, I earned a PhD in science: an unexpected foundation that taught me patience and rigor. My work blends European tradition with influences of my Tunisian heritage. What I aim to offer is not just imagery, but an invitation for viewers to reconnect with their own imaginary theater. I’m currently exhibiting in Paris while preparing new series for upcoming shows in the U.S.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
So many relationships have shaped me, but if I had to choose only one, it would be the bond with my maternal grandparents. We just celebrated my grandmother’s 90th birthday, and though my grandfather left us in 2012, the two of them still feel like a compass in my life. Their joy, their encouragement, and their quiet, thoughtful advice formed the foundation of how I see myself and how I dare to dream!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, more than once. Building an art career is beautiful, but it is also demanding, uncertain, and emotionally exposed. There were moments when I wondered if I should stop. I had left a career where I was already recognized, and suddenly I was alone in my studio, wondering if anyone would care about what I was creating. But every time I reached that point of doubt, something like a message from a collector, an invitation to exhibit, or simply the joy of finishing a piece, pulled me back. So I didn’t give up and I’m grateful I didn’t.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, absolutely. The public version of me is the real me. A few people have suggested that I should cultivate more mystery, but honestly, I can’t. Even if I tried, I couldn’t play a mysterious artist persona, it’s just not who I am. I’m very open and I’m naturally sociable. What you see online is simply how I am every day. The only thing that doesn’t fully translate online is how much I love laughing. I have a big sense of humor, maybe more than people would expect from someone who paints melancholic, introspective characters.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes, it has happened to me. A few years ago, I finally landed what I believed was my dream job. I had worked incredibly hard for it for many years, fought for it, and shaped so many of my plans around getting there. And then, once I was actually in the role, the reality was deeply disappointing. What made it even stranger was the emotional conflict: I wanted to quit, yet I felt guilty toward the earlier version of myself who had wanted this so badly. It almost felt like betraying my past self. But in the end, that experience taught me something essential: that sometimes what we think we want is based on who we used to be, not who we are now. And letting go can be an act of honesty, not failure.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://weriem.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/weriem
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weriem-visual-artist-8131b24a/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuiKVlNy_OiYcFGKjTmPjrA
Image Credits
Portrait by Brandon Acker
Exhibition photos by David Spingola
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