Listening to Yourself – Silvia Poloto – Ep 135

Silvia Poloto emigrated to the United States in the 90s. It was here that she stumbled on a knack for art—and it changed the trajectory of her life.

When Silvia was finishing her Master’s Degree, she started cutting out pieces from magazines and making collages. She started working with metal. Looking to learn more, she signed up for a class called “Metal Arts,” only to realize it was a jewelry-making class.

She spent her time in class creating small sculptures with the material. Her instructor was fascinated. She shared her art with him and he was impressed, convinced she had an art degree instead of one in engineering. That’s when she realized she might have a future in art.

She taught herself metalworking, painting and photography. With every subsequent work of art, her style evolves. She allows her inner self to direct the next piece.

Listen if you are interested in…

• Learn more about Silvia Poloto [1:35]
• Silvia’s studio in a shipyard [8:36]
• The evolution of Silvia’s work [12:28]
• Sirens, Saints, and Sinners [16:35]
• Learn about our Art2Life retreats [20:58]
• How art teaches you who you are [22:09]
• How Silvia comes up with new ideas [27:21]
• Seeing yourself through a different lens [39:08]
• Embracing uncertainty in your life and work [44:20]
• What’s next for Silvia Poloto? [55:34]

Sirens, Saints, and Sinners

Silvia’s artistic style is always changing. She’ll complete a series and make a shift in her work. Currently, she’s working on a figurative series. Her first series, “Sirens, Saints, and Sinners,” was inspired when she spent 10 days at a silent meditation retreat.

She’d close her eyes and see another world, with faces she didn’t know. No one else attending the retreat had the same experience. When she left, she researched the idea of the collective unconscious and archetypes. She painted the women faceless so they could be anyone. It was completely different than anything she’d ever done.

The retreat also taught her that every choice she’d ever made led to where she was that day. When you give yourself the space to sit in silence, you’ll realize that you have the answers within you.

Art teaches you who you are

Silvia believes that making art is sacred. It’s for you before it’s for anyone else. You don’t have to share everything with the world. You can’t just churn out products. Whatever you create needs to be congruent with who you are at that time.

When Silvia stops a series, it’s because it’s lost its allure. When it no longer provides what she’s looking for, it’s stale. She listens to what her heart and mind are telling her and changes when it’s time to change.

She gives herself the freedom to try all kinds of things. She makes art to connect with something bigger than herself. She allows the work to come through her. She hopes that’s what people see when they purchase her work.

Embracing uncertainty in your life and work

Silvia lives for uncertainty. She doesn’t want to know what she’s going to do next. When something comes together, it’s magical. She became uncomfortable with uncertainty because it guides her steps.

If she feels sick to her stomach about a decision, she intuitively knows it isn’t right for her. She’s always made decisions based on how it felt in her body. That’s how you get to know yourself. If you follow the thread, you’ll get closer to the source.

Embracing uncertainty also allows her to live in the moment. She always asks herself, “What can I do today that’s a good decision for today?” Then, she lets the rest unfold.

Resources & People Mentioned

• Pamela Walsh Gallery

Connect with Silvia Poloto

• Silvia’s website
• Explore Sivia’s art on Instagram

Connect with Nicholas Wilton and Art2Life

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