Contemporary figurative painter Xenia Gray unpacks how post-Soviet Siberia, spiritual retreats, and life in D.C. converge in canvases that pulse with raw feeling.
- Growing up in 1990s Siberia—creating a protective “shell” and turning to art for what words couldn’t say
- Finding her visual voice later in life: mixed media, unseen faces, and the recent pivot to vivid greens
- Camino de Santiago, Vipassana silence, and yoga—how physical and spiritual practice cracked creative blocks
- Showing vulnerability without losing humor: balancing motherhood, UX day-work, and a fast-rising studio career
- Why D.C.’s tight-knit arts scene lets her thrive—and how she avoids the ego traps of trends and metrics
Curious about the journey behind her latest series The Great Silence? Hit play, then browse her work at xeniagray.art.
This episode was recorded at my creative home away from home, a hotel that's also a vibrant cultural center. Check out Eaton DC here.
Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:
- Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
- Edited by Daniel Alexis
- Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor
Photos:
- Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
- Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.
- The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.org
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