How the Taiwanese American artist transformed personal experiences, family caregiving, and a background in art history into a colorful practice centered on healing, intention, and human connection.
Some artists begin with a paintbrush.
Gabrielle Mar began with research.
In my recent conversation on the Tarik Talk Podcast, I sat down with Los Angeles-born artist Gabrielle Mar to discuss her unique journey into the art world, the role of art therapy in her life, and how creativity can become a powerful tool for healing, connection, and personal transformation.
Today, Gabrielle’s colorful abstract paintings draw inspiration from nature, family memories, multicultural traditions, and the belief that art has the ability to uplift people during both joyful and difficult moments. But her path to becoming an artist was anything but traditional.
An Academic Foundation
Before becoming a full-time artist, Gabrielle spent years immersed in the worlds of art history, research, and fashion.
She studied visual arts at the doctoral level at UC San Diego and earned a master’s degree from UC Santa Barbara, focusing on art history and visual culture. Rather than approaching art primarily as a creator, she initially viewed it through the lens of research and scholarship.
That perspective continues to influence her work today. Gabrielle approaches subjects with curiosity, investigating ideas, colors, materials, histories, and cultural connections before transforming them into visual expressions.
Art Therapy and a Life-Changing Turning Point
A major turning point came when Gabrielle’s mother became seriously ill with Parkinson’s disease.
Seeking ways to spend meaningful time together, Gabrielle encouraged her mother to participate in simple creative exercises using watercolor and pastel techniques often associated with art therapy.
While the illness continued to progress, the artistic process itself became deeply meaningful.
Rather than focusing on curing or fixing a condition, Gabrielle discovered that art could create moments of joy, connection, and presence.
As she continued creating artwork and displaying it around her mother’s room, she witnessed firsthand how color and creativity could positively affect mood and spirit.
Those experiences eventually inspired Gabrielle to begin sharing her own artwork publicly.
The Power of Color
Color plays a central role throughout Gabrielle’s practice.
She describes herself as a highly visual person who spent years collecting photographs, images, and visual references before developing her own artistic language.
Through experimentation, she discovered how different colors interact with one another and how they can influence emotional responses.
Even during her mother’s illness, Gabrielle would involve her in creative decisions, asking which colors she preferred and observing her reactions.
Those small interactions became meaningful collaborations and strengthened their bond.
For Gabrielle, color is not simply a design element.
It is a form of communication.
East Meets West
Gabrielle’s multicultural background has also shaped her artistic vision.
A Taiwanese American artist with Vietnamese and French family heritage, she grew up surrounded by multiple cultural influences.
Her grandfather practiced calligraphy daily, while her family maintained gardens filled with flowers and collected traditional textiles.
Today, her paintings often blend Eastern and Western influences through color, brushwork, symbolism, and composition.
Chinese calligraphy remains particularly important to her process, informing the movement and rhythm of her brushstrokes.
The result is artwork that feels both contemporary and deeply rooted in personal history.
Creating with Intention
One of the most compelling aspects of Gabrielle’s approach is her belief in intentional creation.
Before painting, she often meditates, listens to music, or spends time reflecting on what she hopes to bring into the world.
Classical music, nature, personal experiences, conversations, poetry, and travel all contribute to her creative process.
Yet despite this preparation, she also embraces uncertainty.
Unexpected marks, accidents, and spontaneous moments frequently become some of the most meaningful parts of a finished piece.
Rather than controlling every aspect of a painting, Gabrielle allows the work to evolve organically.
In her view, every artwork develops its own character.
A New Chapter in New York
After years in Los Angeles, Gabrielle recently relocated to New York City.
She describes the city as a creative universe filled with endless possibilities and inspiring encounters.
Whether meeting artists in galleries, photographers in coffee shops, or creatives working across completely different industries, she sees New York as a place where artistic energy exists everywhere.
The move has also opened new possibilities for her future work.
While painting remains her primary focus, Gabrielle hopes to expand into multimedia projects, sculpture, installation, and publishing.
She is currently developing an art book that will document her paintings alongside the stories, inspirations, and experiences behind them.
Art as Service
Throughout our conversation, one theme appeared again and again:
Art has the power to help people.
Whether displayed in hospitals, schools, public spaces, or private homes, Gabrielle believes creative work can provide comfort, encouragement, and emotional support during important moments in life.
Her own experiences caring for her mother transformed the way she views artistic practice.
For Gabrielle, creating art is not only about aesthetics.
It is about connection.
It is about sharing positive energy.
And it is about reminding people that beauty, creativity, and hope remain available even during life’s most challenging chapters.
Follow Gabrielle Mar
Instagram: @gmr.art
Website: www.gabriellemar.com
About Tarik Talk
Tarik Talk is an international arts and culture podcast hosted by Brazilian artist Tarik Mendes, inviting listeners into intimate, in-depth conversations with artists, dealers, curators, and creative voices from music, film, fashion, and journalism around the world. Each episode opens a window onto the studios, galleries, stages, and stories that shape today’s art landscape. Guided by Tarik’s instinctive curiosity and global perspective, the podcast explores how art connects us all—uncovering the personal journeys, bold ideas, and cultural forces behind the work. Tarik Talk celebrates the “magic of art” as a universal language, offering a sophisticated yet welcoming space for anyone drawn to creativity and its power to transform.
With more than 200 episodes filmed across 10+ countries, Tarik Talk provides listeners with behind-the-scenes access to the people creating today’s global arts landscape.