Meet TW Pilar | Fine Artist Exploring Aesthetics

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

Hi TW, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is important. Diving into something unexplored is vital for innovation, growth, and development in all things. The biggest risk I’ve probably faced is walking away from an almost decade long career as a pastry chef, saying goodbye to the comfort of steady pay and healthcare, and deciding to finally pursue my passion in visual arts. That choice was everything. I lost everything to create something new for myself. Trusting that drive to create, following it to the point of no return, and abandoning anything that kept me from exploring my passions/myself made me the artist I am today, and it all started with taking a risk. Aesthetics, existentialism, and nature won, and the Plastics Collection was forged. These works are a huge sense of pride and accomplishment for me, and being able to develop them further, share them with my community, and create spaces for new conversations, experiences, and ideas is something I’m truly grateful for.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It’s difficult talking about my work; I either don’t know what to say, or I just can’t shut up about it. From the start of this journey to now has been a wild one. I began this collection in only 2021, and have my first solo exhibition in October this year. I couldn’t be more excited about putting together this showcase, and debuting my practice and its philosophy in its own space, It feels like a dream. My work has come so far in what seems like so little time, and after these couple years worth of development I can’t wait to show the largest pieces Ive created, including my first installment and prototype pieces of new designs. Ive spent a lot of hours in the creation, conceptualizing, and researching; learning everything I can from the local craftsman that contribute work to execute the finalized designs. Has it been easy? No. But I wouldn’t change a thing. I will always spend all my time, focus, and funds to experience, absorb, and create art. And I wouldn’t be where I am today without every book, article, or academic paper I’ve read, without every person that has saw something worth while in me and my art, or the artistic community that has supported me along the way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Personally, all I do is art. If I had a friend come to town and join me for my usual escapades it would be focused on catching the newest exhibitions at WhiteSpace gallery, Wolfgang Gallery, or cruising Miami Circle and hitting Johnson and Lowe Gallery. Followed by a late dinner at one of my favorite spots, Tio Lucho’s (because I always have to show people good Peruvian cuisine) so we can have an early morning to grab a coffee and see what is happening at the High Museum! Being in midtown, takes us to a late lunch at Rumis before heading to either an Alliance Theater or Atlanta Opera showing. Drinks and dinner at one of the amazing pop up’s Atlanta offers like SoSoFed! They would leave full of art, amazing food, and inspiration.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Madison Dailey of Memento Gallery, she saw and understood my passion for this work the first day we met, and it has been an absolute pleasure working alongside her and the team at the gallery!

Website: Pilarstudios.com

Instagram: @Redefining.angel

Image Credits
AKR Productions Courtney Gurlie Photography