Meet Elina Pai | Multidisciplinary Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elina Pai and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process stemmed from my desire for freedom and doing what I love. I always felt I wouldn’t stay in my hometown. After immigrating to the US, I devoted my free time to making art and continuously improving my skills. As my confidence grew, I realized I had the ability to turn my passion into a business.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a self-taught multidisciplinary artist, working in pen drawing, photography, painting, and self-portraiture. In my paintings, I blur the lines between the internal and external, telling stories of feelings and emotions, dreams and fears, strengths and weaknesses, truth and hope, love and freedom. These are intangible experiences that I strive to make visible and palpable through colors, light, movement, and symbols. My art serves as a conduit for expressing the multifaceted layers of our being.

I began my career by taking on commissions, completing amazing projects such as a book cover and a painting for a cancer foundation. I also started exploring NFTs and immersing myself in the digital world and the crypto artist community. During the pandemic, I ventured into photography and ended up selling my self-portraits as NFTs. My work has been exhibited in NYC, Paris, Beijing, LA, Bali, Milan and Toronto.

Currently, I am focusing more on my paintings and sharing my physical work with the world. My first solo show, ‘Reflection of Feelings,’ opens this Saturday at Rampant Gallery and will be on display for a few weeks.

Was it easy? Absolutely not. I’ve faced many challenges, from difficult commissions to having a painting stolen from the post office. I’ve lost money, and there were times when my art wasn’t selling. But every mistake and failure made me stronger and taught me valuable lessons. I’ve learned to never give up because my dreams and goals are powerful. My belief in myself never dies.

I want the world to know that my art is a reflection of the human experience, and my journey is a testament to resilience and passion.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My best friend visits me pretty often, so I have a few favorite things to do with her:
Breakfast: We start the day with breakfast at my favorite spots like Blue Bird or Little Tart.
Exploring: We love visiting vintage stores, small art galleries, and thrift shops.
Music: For live music, we head to Blind Willie’s or Dark Horse Tavern for some extreme karaoke.
Dinner: For dinner, we enjoy places like Barcelona Wine Bar or some unique fusion restaurants.
Outdoors: I always take her to see the sunset from Stone Mountain.
Drinks: We wrap up the night with drinks at one of the rooftop bars in Atlanta.
Atlanta is a city that allows for spontaneity, and there’s always something new to discover. I love sharing its vibrant culture, food, and entertainment with my best friend

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To be honest, all my family and friends deserve recognition. They believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. My amazing husband, Naveen, has been a huge support and my rock. Raymond Johnson made me believe I could become a great artist. My ex-boss, Sarah, and my friend, Sue, provided shelter during the hardest times. There are many more people I met on my journey who have played a significant role in my story. Additionally, reading ‘The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari’ helped me a lot along the way.

Website: https://www.elinapai.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elinapaiart/

Twitter: https://x.com/elinapai

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellikutart/