Today we’d like to introduce you to Moyra Pickup.
Hi Moyra, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Art has always been a journey for me. I was born in London to a Brazilian mother and a British father, and grew up between the two cultures. My mum passed away from stomach cancer when I was nine, and soon after my dad moved me and my three younger siblings to Utah.
Art came naturally. It runs through my dad’s side of the family, where painting and drawing were always treated as hobbies but came with real talent. I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember, and after our loss and that big transition, art became my therapy and an emotional outlet.
In 2016, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue art and modeling. Neither took off right away, of course. I was young and distracted, figuring things out. It wasn’t until the pandemic that I finally got serious about painting. I’m a self-taught artist and never went to school for it, never even finished a degree. I bounced between random jobs and sometimes worked two at once. Having that unexpected pause during lockdown gave me exactly what I needed to see what was possible for me creatively. When life sped back up, I realized how important it was to protect space for it.
Since then, I’ve been part of multiple group exhibitions in LA and had my first solo show earlier this year in Salt Lake City. Watching my work evolve and feeling the support from people who’ve followed my journey over the years has been the most validating part of it all.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Time has been the biggest obstacle. I work full-time as an Executive Assistant, and finding the energy to paint after a long day isn’t always easy. I’ve learned that showing up for my art, even in small ways, keeps me going. They say consistency is key but you can’t force creativity, it comes in waves. You just need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself to avoid the burnout and not be hard on yourself when you don’t feel as productive.
Self-doubt has also been such a struggle for me. Only recently did I start to feel comfortable in calling myself an artist. For years, I didn’t feel like I could because it wasn’t my full-time career. I used to think that having another job made my art less valid. Now having an art studio and showcasing my work, that helped me shift that mindset. But being an artist isn’t about the level you’re at and what you’ve accomplished, it’s about the honesty you bring to the work and staying true to yourself.
For a long time, I obsessed over finding a style, thinking I needed to create what would sell or make me successful. I couldn’t get myself to produce anything because I was frozen from the fixation of my image. I finally told myself that there are no limits and I can create any style I desired to. That was my turning point. Allowing myself to experiment brought the motivation and passion back into my process.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My first and longest art practice has always been sketching. These days I mostly paint with acrylic, though I’ve been exploring oil and other mediums.
I’m drawn to quiet, intimate moments that say more than words ever could. My paintings often focus on the human form and emotional stillness. I find inspiration in small things. A car parked beside a tree that frames it just right, the way a hand rests midair, the quiet beauty hiding in things that aren’t trying to be beautiful. Those are the moments that pull me in.
I’m very attracted to color, balance, and negative space. They play a big role in how I express emotion in my artwork. I’m always chasing that tension between vulnerability and strength. Some of my work leans into surreal self-portraits that explore femininity, intimacy, and self-image in today’s digital age, while others sit in realism or the simplicity of everyday life.
Because I have so many different styles, explaining what I paint has never come easily. It’s more of a translation. A way of capturing the moment when something ordinary suddenly feels like more.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I’ve learned not to limit myself to one path or one dream. Just like I’ve allowed myself to create freely without defining a single style, I’ve realized that life can be the same way. You can build a creative path that’s uniquely your own.
Balancing a career and an art practice has taught me to honor both structure and freedom. The two can coexist.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to allowing myself to simply just be me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://moyrapickup.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/moyrapickup
Image Credits
Personal portrait photo taken by Craig Pickup
Additional Photos:
In Moyra’s art studio taken by Nando Pacheco.
2 of Moyra’s pieces up in Canyon Creative Studio taken by Hugo Landa Garcia.
Moyra posing in front of her art by Bravo Images.
