We had the good fortune of connecting with Kira Von Heuer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kira, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
For most of my life, my pendulum swung toward the belief that work came before everything else. There was almost a high that I got from it, but it was fleeting. I was so wrapped up in building my company, and although it was exhilarating, I didn’t realize at the time that so many other facets of who I was wasn’t being nurtured. A shift in perspective was key—when I came out on the other side, I came to terms with the fact that my artistic interests were more present than my entrepreneurial ones. Once that awakening occurred, it was no longer about work/life balance; it became about determining who or what is nourishing what. What worlds, experiences, rituals, curiosities, and relationships can I weave into my creativity and imagination, so that I might offer art, designs, and curatorial work that resonate with and enrich the lives of others.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As an artist, I always return to romance, I create works that tell stories of liberation and beauty. I see art as both a form of activism as well as a devotion to the divine. Water being a central theme throughout my practice, I play with the element to learn, channel and communicate new ways of understanding humanity. My work is both sculptural as well as autobiographical, creating intimate wearable adornments through my atelier – as well as my water chapel collection and large-scale public art works that directly relate to mythology, romance and nature. My work conjures up elements of play, with the intention to offer levity for the conscious collective – a radical act for peace of mind.

For so long, I struggled to allow this artistic part of me to exist, I was paralyzed by only allowing myself to be an art advisor and curator — Through many tough lessons in self acceptance and courage, I started to recognize that art transcends being a mere object; rather, it’s an environment in itself and I could play in my own holistic world of being both an artist and curator/advisor.

That was when I fell in love with living an artistic life and let go of worrying about external judgments and stopped caring about conventional expectations. I would want others to know that I feel deeply inspired to bring these elements into their world – wether it be through building out an art collection or a water chapel commission. I love working with others, coming back to the why and how and the relationships that are developed within the creative courtship.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Those yummy beach walks in Malibu offer up a real enchanting vibe. Cocktails at Sunset Tower. Gallery going at PACE, Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Marta — take in a concert at The Hollywood Bowl. Antique shopping in Pasadena. Spend the afternoon at the Huntington Library — walk Robert Irwin’s Central Garden at The Getty. Check out LA Dance Project’s latest show. Take in the ballet and/or anything Dimitri Chamblas is doing in LA. Head up the coast to Santa Barbara to treat yourself to Superica’s divine Mexican food. Go back to the beach. Eat mushroom fries at Great White.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to those creatives who are setting courageous examples by living outside of convention, and to my parents, who lived by their own example through their love for art and the natural environment. Their way of parenting infused this into my being on a cellular level. Outside of my personal nucleus, my north stars are Es Devlin, Katherine Hepburn, Tilda Swinton, Monique Péan, LaToya Ruby Frazier and Leonardo da Vinci, Monet and Matisse.

Website: https://kiraheuer.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiravonheuer/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kira-von-heuer-0465b77/

Other: https://kiraheuer.substack.com/

Image Credits
They are all mine.

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