Meet Zaidi O | Freedom Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zaidi O and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zaidi, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I believe that if an artist is perusing art, they are perusing themselves. I was once told by a friend, Garfield, that the art was me, and everything I produce is a gift.
Once I began perusing ME, life began to change. I started perusing me, because nothing else felt right. If we are all getting a shot at creating something, I can put that same energy in putting into a company, into myself. Let me be fully responsible for how I represent myself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I went to Western Michigan University with the intention of studying photography. After my first year, I became so excited about the electives that I moved towards a general arts degree. I spent the bulk of my hours in the ceramic studio and the sculpture studio. There was also a great deal of Art history, considering it was an 8am lecture that I failed twice. Eventually, it stuck.

I would say the most difficult hurdle for me to jump was the confidence in my art. I had so many studies and critiques under my belt, that it had given me a foundation for constantly comparing my work or skills to some measure of what qualified as “good art” or Art history worthy.

To be honest, it took a while before I started betting on myself. One of the main catalysts for me to do so was to simply look around during 2020, and I watched people just do whatever they could think of and be their whole selves. The lesson in that was to find out who I was, and if I didn’t like that version, create the version I would love. It took a lot of pressure off of my art, and I was able to claim it as my own; my style, my strokes, my color choices and so forth. I’ve learned, and am still learning how my presence/ my art/ I will always speak for itself/myself. My job is to continuously refine how I want to show up in the world, and everything else will happen as a natural occurrence; making art.

I have a show that I’ve been working on since 2006. I didn’t know when I started it, but it is consistent. It is an abstract style that I started while working in a prison. Naturally, this piece will be based on Freedom; within our work as artists, but first within our bodies.

I’ve been intentionally using my life as a moving installation of Freedom for the past 3 years. I left the security of home and community to find out what more life had to offer, and this would be for the 3rd time, but as a 40-something. It has been the most colorful life that I’ve never could have imagined, and then I did.

What I would leave with people is that my story is specific to me, but relatable in theme to many. Push yourself towards your own goals as much as you do for other people’s goals, and then help someone else do the same. The success of life simply means you haven’t stopped.
Figure out what feels most authentic to who you are. Ask yourself, what are you doing right now that’s a good time and sustainable? What are some things that you give to and that give back to you that feel sustainable?
Go do it. Bet on yourself. People are waiting to enjoy this with you.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, I’ve been in DC for almost two years. I would take them to Founding Farmer’s for brunch. This is hands down my favorite meal to eat, and restaurant to eat it at.
My hang out spot is a bit of a secret, but I typically go to this smoke lounge to just sit and talk without the pressure of being waited on or bothered too much. I really like the guys that own it.
I live close to the Arboretum, and I’ve got a couple friends that would enjoy that stroll. We don’t really turn up like that. We chill, eat, and listen to music. So, with that being said, we could hit the Kennedy Center if there was a performance we wanted to see.
My got to, without fail, works out every time, the museums. One, they’re free, and two, there’s so many! The museums are phenomenal. We’d definitely do that.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a shoutout to Zeenat Watts for putting me in this loop, and for taking very good care of me when I hit the hard reset.

Instagram: Beardedladyart

Other: Tiktok: beardedladyart

Image Credits
I’ve shot all of my own photography.