Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Chen.
Hi Gabrielle, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am an artist living my dream, painting on whatever surface I can, surfing Huntington Beach, practicing yoga, and playing with my two wonderful children.
I grew up in a Burmese-Fuzhou household in Diamond Bar of east LA with my two older sisters. I am a child of migrants and a granddaughter of refugees. We grew up eating delicious homemade food, visiting relatives of my dad’s 14 siblings and my mom’s 9 siblings, celebrating the ways of our ancestors, and learning the ways of these lands on which we grew.
I met my soulmate and life partner while surfing in Huntington Beach. He sees something special in my art. He sees me being free. He sees me in a flow state. I was painting a mural in the bedroom of my parent’s house and he said that was when he knew that creating art was my calling. He continues to support my passion by supplying materials, giving me space to create, offering words of encouragement, and helping set up my art exhibits and shows. Whenever I have doubts about my craft, I remember being in that state of freedom.
I began my art career as a chalk artist in 2016. I hand-lettered menus and signs “APPLES 2 for $3.” Before meeting my life partner, I was a single mom, and I found community with my family and with Birth Workers of Color Collective (BWOCC). I offered personalized astrology paintings to raise tuition for Doula of Color training with BWOCC. When I was five months pregnant with our second child, I digitally painted “In Birth We Trust” (2022) which was honored at my first exhibit at Sovern LA, a community center dedicated to BIWOC.
My most recent piece features a portrait of a beautiful Black mother breastfeeding her child as she smiles. My intention is to benefit maternal wellness with proceeds going to Birth Workers of Color Collective. Another piece I just finished is a hand-painted South Bay Board Co. surfboard that features a beautiful palm tree seen from our backyard and words “Gone Surfing.” You can see both on my website linked below.
For fun, I enjoy painting my mom’s banana trees on old school, upcycled surfboards, offering swim lessons to loved ones, baking sweet treats, and practicing detachment through meditation and yoga.
Thank you so much for your interest! Be well 🙂
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Becoming a parent deepened my love and expanded my universe, and at the same time, it has been all the challenges. I am so lucky to paint at home while my kids sleep or while my parents play with them. I also have an amazingly supportive partner who encourages me to self-care with yoga when I’m in the “yellow zone,” as my wise therapist calls it.
When I was a child, my father generously enrolled me in an art class. The teacher corrected the way that I drew. This was the first time among many I would feel that the way I existed was incorrect. I immediately told my dad I wanted to quit. I no longer identified as an artist, yet I was still drawn to beauty and I would entertain myself by doodling in the margins of my notebook paper when I got bored.
When I moved back with my family after schooling in Chicago, I was 21 with a psychology degree uncertain where to go from there. I worked a wide array of jobs decorating ice cream cakes at my parents’ shop, teaching swim lessons, and working at Algalita Marine Research and Education and Surfrider foundation. I worked as a barista when I would again turn to doodling on the menu when I got bored which led me to my first job as an artist.
My 20s was full of learning how to listen to my body and filling my days with passions at the forefront rather as “dessert.” I went from feeling the need to perform for everyone else to knowing what felt good to my heart and soul. Painting, movement, and being in the water became my freedom where time is just a construct, my dreams come alive, and my expression flows.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I will not tell any person that they are drawing wrong. As a self-taught artist, I know that there is more than one path. Art is everywhere- in movement, in cooking, in sports, in driving, in our relationships. As long as we are not causing harm, anyway is ok.
As a parent and birth worker, I am inspired by mothers, I am passionate about breastfeeding, and I love to paint people of color. As a Californian swimmer and surfer, I am drawn to the beauty of tropical plants and the rainbows of the ocean. As a lettering sign artist, I love bold drop shadows and highlights. As a Buddhist, I practice peace and non-violence which comes through as uplifting words and images in my art.
I am most proud of the 7’ paintings in my surfboard collection. The first board I painted was my first beloved used board that I had bought for myself. I turned it into a welcome sign for my parents’ ice cream shop in Garden Grove which can still be seen standing there. If you’d like to see these boards, you can check them out on my website listed below.
I enjoy celebrating people of color by painting them in all their shades in beautiful scenes. I enjoy uplifting the narrative of people of color through paintings.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
To my sister Lindsey, you were my first cheerleader. You have poured love into our sisterhood since we’ve been kids. I love you forever and I am eternally grateful to be your sister.
To my sister Nikki and my friend Nina, I love the both of you. You have both been long-time patrons of my art and I am sincerely grateful for your loving support.
To my friend Devan, I love you dearly and happy birthday!
To my doula and friend Stevie, you have curated multiple spaces in which you have invited me to show my artwork. You held me in such an intimate time. I deeply thank you.
To my amazing parents, Nora and Derek, you always want the best for me. You cared for me my whole life and have shown me such a beautiful way of living. My mother cares for my children with her whole heart and has taught me how to care for them. My father taught me how to run his business and has been advising me financially since I was young. I am eternally grateful for you both. I wish you both happiness, healthiness, wealthiness, and peace.
To my favorite astrologers David Pond, Katina Castillo of Earth Purpose, and Dossé-Via Trenou of Know Astrology, I thank you each for my personalized astrology readings and current cosmic guidance.
To my parent coach, my tocaya, Gaby Blanco of Healing Parents, thank you for your wise guidance and healing narratives.
To my children Gabe and Kelia Mei, I am so grateful that you are in my life. I am lucky to be your Mama. I hope you both feel free to listen to your heart.
Last but not least, to my loving soulmate and life partner Ian, you show me so much adoration and appreciation. I love our lives together. I love learning from your gentle kindness and generosity. The abundance of support and love you have given to me, I wish it back to you tenfold. You are the most amazing partner for me. I am so blessed to live life with you.
Pricing:
- $100 custom surfboard paintings
- $20+ premium matte-painted prints
Contact Info:
- Website: www.GabriellesArtShow.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriellesartshow/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085533684248&sk=about_places
Image Credits
All images belong to Gabrielle Chen
