Interview

Dec 8

Cami Frare

Cami Frare is an Argentine visual artist based in Miami. In her latest series, CRYSTAL, she explores the contrast between fragility and strength through feminine crystal figures, inviting an emotional journey of resilience and transformation. Her work focuses on themes such as emotional journeys, vulnerability, hope, and inner healing, using intense color and figurative elements to turn feelings into images.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I was born and raised in Argentina, and I’ve been painting for as long as I can remember. I started taking painting classes when I was 16 with a teacher I will always admire, and later continued as a self-taught artist. For many years, I balanced painting in my free time with my work in the digital and marketing world, but art was always there for me as a way to process my emotions. Eventually, I moved to Miami for love, and that changed the way I saw things. I realized I needed to find my own voice, and I didn’t want to go through life wondering what would have happened if I had given my art a real chance. So, I decided to take my art seriously and give it the space it deserved. That’s when my current work began to take shape. I started painting more intentionally about deep emotions from my past, using painting as a healing process, and that is how my latest series, CRYSTAL, was born.”

What inspires you?

“A lot of my ideas come from moments when I feel very intense emotions. Painting helps me turn those feelings into something I can see and understand – it’s a healing process where I can put things into perspective and let them go. I use the feminine figure because I feel it holds these emotions in a very natural and harmonious way. Women feel deeply, we are strong, sensitive, and resilient. I admire the female figure, the faces, the expressions – for me, it’s the perfect way to express strength and fragility at the same time. That’s also why I’m working with crystal figures: they look delicate, but they are also strong and full of light. Color is another big source of inspiration for me. I often start from a feeling and then look for a color palette that matches that emotion.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“I’m mainly interested in emotional journeys. Many of my paintings are based on memories and past experiences that have marked me in different ways – not only through difficult moments but also through joy, hope, and transformation. In my work, especially in CRYSTAL, I explore the idea that being fragile doesn’t mean being weak. We can be fragile and still hold a lot of strength, transparency, beauty, and plenty of light inside. I want my work to remind people that they are not alone in their emotions, and I like to leave space for viewers to find their own stories in each piece.”

How would you describe your work?

“My work is emotional and figurative. I paint feminine crystal figures to talk about fragility and strength. I use intense colors, contrasts, and simple compositions to focus on the feeling of each piece.”

Which artists influence you most?

“I love art, and I feel inspired every time I see an artwork that carries emotion, intention, and a personal story. I admire Frida Kahlo, especially the way she turned her personal experiences into powerful, symbolic images – her colors, her flowers. I also love Monet for the colors in his landscapes, and Bosch for the complexity of his scenes; I can stand in front of their artworks for hours, and that fascinates me. I’m also very inspired by Botticelli – I love how he creates strong scenes with the human figure as the main protagonist. I’m also inspired by many contemporary artists, such as Katharina Reichart, Elena Gual, Fabian Utta, and Werner Bronkhorst, for their use of color, texture and the way they’ve each developed their own artistic path.”

“I paint feminine crystal figures to talk about fragility and strength. I use intense colors, contrasts, and simple compositions to focus on the feeling of each piece.”

What is your creative process like?

“I think about an emotion I want to work with, and almost immediately I see the pose, composition, and general atmosphere of the piece in my mind. Then I make a simple sketch of the body to find the right posture and expression. I use a lot of model references from Pinterest, and I choose a color palette that matches that emotion. On the canvas, I block in the main shapes and background and then build up layers of paint. I start with softer, lighter layers and gradually make them darker and more defined. With each piece, I try to challenge myself and learn something new – a different background, flowers, textures, or materials. I never really feel like a painting is completely finished, but I get very excited to move on to a new project. So once I feel the piece is already saying what I want to express, I call it done – otherwise, I could keep retouching it for years.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“For me, an artist’s role is to create connection – to bring people back to what is real. We live in a world where everything is fast, digital, and immediate. Screens, social media, technology, and now artificial intelligence take most of our time and attention. Sometimes it’s even hard to know what is real and what is not. I think artists have the challenge of telling people: slow down. Go back to the roots. Remember the beauty of simple things, of something made by hand, of symbols and stories. It’s funny because since I started dedicating myself to art, many people around me think I ‘don’t work.’ We live in a society where if you’re not sitting in front of a computer from 9 to 5, it looks like you’re not working. The digital world has taken a lot of the credit for what we call success, work, and even relationships. Art can remind us to pause, to feel, and to connect with ourselves and with others in a deeper way. In that sense, I think the artist’s role is more important than ever today.”