Meet Eugenie Spirito | Sculptor

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

Hi Eugenie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Great question. To me, risk is all about creating the life one wishes to live. Without risk-there is no dreamlife.
One of the first risks I took was when I had just graduated from college. I knew somehow the man I was suppose to marry was somewhere in NYC not in L.A. where I grew up. I had $3,000.- a one way ticket and 2 letters of recommendation for an Art Director position my Dad got for me from some of his friends. I had no place to live, no job and only knew one girlfriend there. I jumped & moved. You know the saying, “If you can make it there-you can make it anywhere.”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Well, I think it is not a common choice to carve stone if you are female. It is very physically demanding and stone is very hard.
I lucked out when I moved to NYC and took a stone carving class with Philip Pavia-a Master Sculptor. I was the only female in a room of men. At the end of the semester, Philip took me aside and told me I had something special and he asked me to apprentice with him. So I did, for the next 8-9 yrs. If I had stayed working with him, maybe I’d have had more career recognition.
But I wanted to move back home to L.A. to be with my family and allow my husband to seriously start his writing career.
While I continued to carve and sell my work myself as well as with several Gallery Representatives. And still do. Presently I am showing some of my sculptures at the Tracy Park Gallery in Malibu. So you see, part of being an artist is risking
my next move but also never quitting. Never giving up. Never taking no for an answer. That is my motto.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were coming to visit for a week I would definitely want to take her to Little Tokyo for a nice lunch at TOT on 2nd St. then around the corner to the bakery and get some Mochi Green Tea cookies. Then go get some freshly made mochi at Fugetsu-do Bakery on 1st St. Of course visit the Japanese Gardens around the corner as well. Another day we’d have to visit the LACMA where, when I was a small child, my grandparents brought me, which is how my love of sculpture began. And then go to the Farmers Market on 3rd & Fairfax for lunch. Maybe even shop on Melrose for a bit afterwards. Another day we’d have to check out my favorite special bagels on Ocean Park & 16th called Layla. OMG-the best! I love walking the Boardwalk in Venice and shopping on Abbot Kinney. If we have time then go to the Promenade. Food, Art and Gardens-that is a good time to me.My favorite Sushi place is still HIDE on Sawtelle, so we’d have to go there, too. Plus the NijiyaJapanese Market is so fresh and fun to collect items for a picnic or snack for later.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Father. He gave me the inner security with his love and belief in me. I live my life by from day one.
My Husband who gives me my backbone support and encourages me to be me. 100%. Daily.
JAC & Arlington Forbes/ JacForbes Gallery gave me my first start in their Malibu Gallery, Geneen Estrada gave me my first representation, Brekelle Lavee/Flower & Hewes Gallery and now so happy to be a part of the Tracy Park Gallery in Malibu.
So many people believed in me from the start all over the world buying my work or commissioning from scratch. You know who you are,

Website: https://eugeniespirito.com

Instagram: Eugenie Spirito

Image Credits
Photos by Raymond Lema (first shot) & (the rest by) Louis Spirito