Meet Ari Fouse of Mid-City, Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ari Fouse

Hi Ari, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been painting my whole life, and I always knew that I wanted to be an artist. When I turned 18, I moved to Brooklyn, NY for college and got my BFA in Painting from Pratt Institute. That’s where I really discovered who I am as an artist. After that, I spent a month at the Dorland Mountain Arts Colony in Temecula, CA, as one of their artists in residence. I fell in love with the land and the sky in California and eventually decided to move to Los Angeles. I’m now working as the Assistant Director at Lois Lambert Gallery, in Santa Monica, and continuing my painting practice out of my home studio.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My artwork is so personal, and I sometimes find that makes it difficult to share with other people. It’s a very vulnerable thing for me. I paint to express my innermost feelings and my love for the natural world around me. Not everyone relates to that or understands what my work is really about.

Beyond that, one of the hardest parts of making a piece is just the physicality of it all. I like to paint on large canvases and for long periods of time, while the paint is still very wet. I had an injury a couple years ago, and it really discouraged me from painting. I didn’t physically feel capable of doing it for a long time.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My day job is at Lois Lambert Gallery, as the Assistant Director. I’m in charge of coordinating our exhibitions and working directly with our artists. I’ve made many connections in the art world here because of this, and I’ll actually be having a piece in an upcoming group show at the gallery, in September.

As an independent artist, I primarily work with oil paint, metal leaf, and loose pigments. I use imagery from the sky and the sea to investigate abstraction, capturing the inherent beauty and mystery of nature and our environment. My work serves as an invitation to pause, reflect, and rediscover the harmony that exists when we align ourselves with the vast, endless expanse of the world around us.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love how easily you can reach different landscapes – the mountains, the beach, the desert, the forest, etc. It’s all pretty accessible from here, and I think that’s exciting. The thing I like least would have to be the traffic and general attitude of always being “on the go.” It’s important to slow down and take a step back sometimes.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.arifouse.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: @arifouseart

Image Credits
All images courtesy of the artist.