We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Ari Brochin, a multifaceted artist whose work spans painting, woodcutting, and video content. We met her in her Brooklyn studio to learn more about her unique creative process and the journey that led her to this point. In a world where the traditional art market can be a difficult space to navigate, Brochin has forged her own path, combining her artistic talent with a savvy understanding of modern media.

Stepping into her studio, we were surrounded by the vibrant energy of her creations. Colorful, playfully shaped paintings carved from wood filled the space, giving a tangible sense of her unique style. As we spoke, it became clear that her art is deeply personal, an outward expression of an internal “magic” that she’s been nurturing for years. Keep reading to learn more about Ari Brochin’s story in her own words, detailing how her love for art became a full-time career.

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Art, to me, is more than just a creative pursuit; it feels like an intrinsic part of who I am. While it might sound cliche, it’s my unique magic that I get to share with the world. It’s a natural talent that came so easily to me that it feels like a true extension of myself. I can’t imagine my life without creating.

My name is Ari Brochin, and I’m a multifaceted artist based in Brooklyn, New York. I work in a lot of different mediums, including woodcutting, oil painting, and video content creation. I’ve been doing this for about four years, but it feels like a fresh start because I’ve only been exploring my new, fun style for the last year and a half.

I’m originally from New Jersey, but my mom moved to Vermont almost ten years ago, so I now consider Vermont home. I moved to New York four years ago, right after college, and immediately started my journey as a full-time artist. I went to a school in North Carolina where I studied marketing and communications. I loved the experience and the people, and I had the classic fraternity and sorority experience that many people have. But looking back, if I could go back, I probably wouldn’t have gone there, as it wasn’t a school focused on art.

It was during my time there that I realized I needed to be a creative person to survive. I started a small business in college, and that’s where everything began to bloom. I realized I could be my own boss and pursue art full-time. I was surrounded by amazing people in college, but they weren’t inherently creative, and I found myself itching for that creativity. I started taking more art classes and realized I needed to make an effort to make room for more creativity in my life. It became a safe place for me. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment it clicked, but I remember having some extra time to take an art class and feeling life come back into me. It was the missing puzzle piece that had made me feel not fully myself.

My art has always been interactive. I remember in high school making this really cool, abstract piece where I figured out how to manipulate foam board to create a flat dining table with candles and cups that stuck out of it. It was things like that that fascinated me—pushing beyond what I could do on a canvas. For a long time, I painted and drew more realistically because that came most naturally, but I’ve since found my way into the work I do now.

The idea to use my paintings as props came from a photographer friend who wanted to collaborate. She saw a couple of my woodcut paintings—a crushed marble cigarette box and a cigarette—and thought they would be cool props for a photoshoot. I loved the idea and made more pieces for a collaboration based on the theme of exploring one’s inner child. The shoot came out better than I could have ever expected, and I realized I had found something truly unique. I had so much fun on set, not just as a painter, but as a creative director and producer. I was doing more than just painting. From there, I started to dive deeper into this idea, creative-directing my own shoots and working with other photographers. My pieces now have a whole other life, telling a story in beautiful photoshoots, while also being cool art for a wall. I think it’s really exciting that they can live many different lives.

I use MDF wood for my creations, ranging from a quarter inch to three-quarters of an inch thick. I bought a jigsaw one day and just went for it, without even watching a tutorial. I drew my shape on a large piece of wood and started cutting it out. I loved the process and the ability to do more than just paint. This new process finally scratched a creative itch I’d had for so long, offering something new, different, and exciting. I use oil paint because I love it, but I may switch back to acrylic soon. I also use a drill to cut out holes and two different sanders to get the pieces just right.

The way I feel about a painting changes depending on how it’s used. When I sell it, it sometimes feels like it has a higher value, but it also feels like it has a higher value when it’s used as a prop. The main difference is that when I sell a piece, I can’t reuse it. Many of my pieces are rented out to photographers, designers, and creative directors for various purposes. However, it’s interesting because sometimes on a shoot, people forget that they’re fine art pieces and might be a little rough with them. When someone buys a piece, they know they’ve paid a lot of money for it and they treat it with more care. I once had a piece that I rented to a photographer break completely. It’s a scary part of the process, but I’ve learned to be more cautious.

I have so many goals and directions I want to go in. I feel fortunate to be a multifaceted creative person. I want to do more creative direction, set design, and use my prop paintings in runways, editorials, and major campaigns. I want them to be in magazines like Interview and Paper. I also want to do more with my social media content, work with more cool brands, and get into actual physical 3D art and sculpture for brand activations. There are thousands of things I want to do.

I always like to think about what I’d say to my younger self. I grew up in a town that wasn’t very creative and didn’t really push self-expression. I was even bullied for wearing funky outfits, and I wish I didn’t let that stop me. In hindsight, I knew there was a bigger picture. So I would tell people to say, “Fuck it,” and do it anyway. Explore, experiment, and scratch those creative itches you have in your brain. If you have an idea, write it down and execute it immediately. Don’t be afraid to be loud.

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