Conversations with the Inspiring Cali Rockowitz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cali Rockowitz.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Cali. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve always been an artist – since the age of three. My parents used to set me down, surround me with art supplies, and watch me go at it. Although I’ve always been an artist, I never considered it possible to make a living out of it.

I stopped making art after college – not intentionally, but that’s just how my life went at the time. After graduating with a business degree, I moved to New York City to start my first corporate job, because that’s what I assumed I had to do. I lasted less than a year. For the following seven years, I lived in four different cities and took 10 different jobs. I look back and realize that I was just figuring out all of the things I DON’T want to do with my life.

Fast forward to age 28 – I’m living in Los Angeles (still on that corporate grind) and on a whim, I decided to stop into the art store down the street and pick up some paints and a canvas. I didn’t think much of it – all I knew is that I had a lot of creativity pent up and I needed somewhere to put it. Luckily, that skill doesn’t disappear if you neglect it for almost a decade.

On October 1st, 2018, I released my first painting in 8 years – and I suddenly felt that fire I’d been searching for. From there, I spent months consistently creating, and one year later (almost to the day) I made the decision to leave my corporate job and pursue art full time. That decision was terrifying, but I have absolutely no doubt it was the right one. Since then, the inspiration and creativity have been flowing faster and brighter than I’ve ever experienced.

Great, 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?
The biggest obstacle for me has been internal. Finding your passion, and feeling the fire it gives you is one thing – but maintaining positivity in a world that’s saturated with judgment and inconsistency takes work. There’s beauty in knowing that I have all the power to create the life I want, but that life I’m envisioning won’t exist unless I stop comparing myself to other artists and push past extreme self-doubt. It’s tough, but the growth I’m experiencing is wild and amazing and everything I asked for.

Also, as a woman who just turned 30, single, living in a city where youth is a pretty valuable currency, I would’ve thought I’d be feeling a lot more stress at this point in my life. But art changed everything. It has given me an outlet to challenge myself both mentally and physically. And it has made me more confident in my own skin – I judge my appearance less, knowing I’m finding other ways to release beauty into this world.

The biggest piece of advice I have is to never make any decisions based on fear. It’s never too late to start over and build the life you want. Sometimes the fear won’t go away, you just have to do it scared.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I’m a visual artist – painting mostly portraits with acrylic on canvas.

Music has a strong influence on my art. My concepts are inspired by specific songs, and the subjects are usually inspirational people in my life. I’m confident in the fact that I am able to truly see my muses and capture their essence on canvas.

Painting is my strongest skill as an artist, but my goal is to elevate the art way beyond just paint-to-canvas. I want people to feel, and relate to the emotions I felt when I came up with each concept, and the best way to do that is to stimulate as many senses as possible. I’ve collaborated with dancers and filmmakers to bring my art to life and moving forward, I’m hoping to explore new ways for people to experience my work.

What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
Some say art is the great equalizer as it’s an industry that’s relatively inclusive – where all forms of expression and opinion are accepted, and to be an outsider often helps to create a unique perspective.

But when it comes to the business of art, unfortunately, many of the same power structures of male dominance exist, making it harder for female artists to gain representation, sell their work, and become industry leaders. Art buyers, agents, and gallery owners are predominantly men, and male artists gross more money as their works sell for higher price points.

I don’t have all the answers as to why this is, but what I’ve noticed is the overall idea in our society that women are more emotional. There’s this idea that emotions are not a positive aspect of a leader because they make us vulnerable, and therefore “weak.” So, there is an automatic bias that women in leadership roles are inherently weak based on not only our chemical makeup but also how we are portrayed in society vs. how men are portrayed. That bias leads people to believe women are not as capable or trustworthy as men in superior positions.

With that said, women stand out in positions of leadership. This is a great thing as long as they demand that presence and are not inhibited by socially influenced insecurities. I’m looking forward to helping level the playing field.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.calirockowitz.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @calirock
• Facebook: @calirockowitzart

Image Credit:
Steffi Nguyen

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