Meet Gabriela Oltean of The Broken Duchess in Beverly Hills

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriela Oltean.

Gabriela, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in Transylvania-Romania, to artistically-inclined parents, who provided my first experiences with creative expression.

As a young girl, growing up in a colorless communist country, my parents offered me an artistic shelter from the world surrounding us at the time, manly lacking in opportunities and freedom of speech.

My mother designed furniture and always inspired me to beautify the world around me, my dad painted in addition to being an engineer.

I was 18 years old studying at a University in Bucharest when I was scouted to participate in the Elite Model Look contest which I ended up winning. I then moved to Paris to pursue a modeling carrier followed by a long period of intensive travel around the world. It was an unmatched experience to be exposed to so many cultures, traditions, and arts.

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?
I have worked for many years as a model and at times, the intensive travel and work schedule made me feel displaced and more so, leaving me with the desire to express myself more creatively in some ways that I still needed to find. I was searching to have more outlets to voice my love for art.

In Los Angeles, I found this great program at UCLA, where I ended up studying interior design, got my Masters and graduated in 2010. This equipped me well for another phase for my multi-faceted pursuits to come.

Living in Hollywood and being in love with the cinematic arts, I discovered the world of sets and movie-making magic, in front and behind the camera. I explored a range of projects in that industry, from dressing sets to styling actors and models to photography.

I must say that in fashion, I’ve learned to hone an eye for all things beautiful, I’ve learned to watch, adapt and develop the ability to find inspiration in everything around me.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Broken Duchess – what should we know?
Now, I am a Los Angeles based interior designer and photographer, offering a full range of design services (from developing concepts, design consultation, space planning), to photo portraiture, lifestyle and fashion photography. I like to ride the blurred line between Art and Design.

I think what sets me apart is my observing instinct, the way I like to watch people, connect with them, learn how they live, how they feel. I can only complete my job only if I personalize and incorporate a rich knowledge of my clients into my work process.

My mission is to create a complete universe and empower them to bring it to life with their own presence.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think my openness to unknown… being unassuming.

I always try to investigate the nature of the human spirit, from the extraordinary to the ordinary. Behind the camera, my creative energy and flow embrace the subject and this symbiotic relationship enables me to bring to life an entire palette of moods, not only through the grace of the subject’s persona but through the power of my imagination.

In design, I am best known for being innovative within any budgets and giving new purpose and history to mundane, found, sacred, conventional or ready-made objects.

In Interior design as well in photography, I try to find a coherent language that reflects my vision in conjunction with my clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gabrielaolteandesign.com
• Phone: 310 770 7051
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @thebrokenduchess and @gabbyoltean
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabriela.oltean.3

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.