Interview
Dante M. Pirouz
With a background in behavioral science and a PhD in psychology, Dante M. Pirouz brings a unique lens to contemporary abstract art. Her early academic career focused on how color and form influence human emotion - a fascination that now drives her visual work. Working primarily in acrylic and mixed media, Dante creates emotionally resonant paintings inspired by the quiet power of nature. Her practice draws from landscapes - skies, lakes, and fields - not to represent them literally, but to evoke the internal experiences they awaken. Each painting is layered, intuitive, and deeply personal, yet invites a universal kind of reflection. “I don’t paint what I see; I paint what I feel. My work is less about the landscape itself and more about the emotional imprint it leaves behind,” she shares. Dividing her time between rural Michigan and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Dante finds inspiration in expansiveness - both external and internal. Her work has been shown at The Other Art Fair by Saatchi Art in Chicago, Superfine Art Fair on Fifth Avenue in New York, and is part of private collections across North America. She has been featured in New Visionary Magazine and The Creative Process Book 2024 by Arts to Hearts Project. As an artist, Dante sees her role as a conduit for emotional presence.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My journey into the art world wasn’t linear. I earned a PhD in psychology and spent much of my early career in academia. Art was something I grew up around but initially resisted - perhaps because it felt too close, too expected. But over time, I found that painting offered a form of emotional expression that academic work could not. I began to explore art not just as a creative outlet, but as a vehicle for healing, insight, and connection. What started as private experimentation became a public practice when collectors began responding to my work.”
What inspires you?
“I'm most inspired by the natural world - its capacity for stillness, movement, and change. Skies, water, and open landscapes are central to my visual language. Emotionally, I'm driven by the tension between chaos and calm, between complexity and clarity. I’m also inspired by color theory and the psychology of visual perception, which I studied deeply in my academic life and now apply intuitively through art.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“My work explores presence, reflection, and the quiet power of natural spaces. Recurring themes include emotional grounding, memory, and the layered experience of landscape. While not overtly narrative, my paintings invite contemplation. They offer a kind of emotional resonance - often aiming to provide a sense of peace, wonder, or introspection. There’s also an underlying message about the therapeutic value of beauty and the importance of slowing down.”
How would you describe your work?
“My paintings are abstract expressionist in spirit, rooted in nature and rendered through intuitive layers of color and texture. I often use acrylics and mixed media - sometimes including gold leaf - to add visual richness. The work straddles the line between abstraction and impressionism, offering a sense of place without dictating the viewer’s interpretation.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I’m influenced by painters who work at the intersection of abstraction and emotional landscape - artists like Richard Mayhew, Tracy Helgeson, Hester Berry, Kevin Gillentine, Bri Custer and Jodi Miller. I’m also drawn to contemporary female artists who bring sensitivity and scale to their work, and whose practice feels both intuitive and intellectually grounded such as Carmen Herrera, Joan Blond and Georigia O'Keefe. I admire those who use color boldly and who aren't afraid of ambiguity.”
“In a world that moves fast, I want to create work that invites people to pause - just for a moment - and feel something true.”
What is your creative process like?
“My process begins with a feeling or a memory - often something tied to a landscape or a color palette. I don’t typically plan in detail; I let intuition guide me. I build up layers slowly, responding to how the paint interacts and evolves. Sometimes, I scrape back, sometimes I add metallics or marks that create tension. The process is as much about editing as it is about creating. Each piece feels like a conversation between my internal state and the canvas.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Artists help people feel - whether it’s joy, discomfort, peace, or reflection. In a world saturated with noise and speed, art offers a space for stillness and meaning. I believe artists serve as emotional translators, giving form to experiences that words often fail to express. As society becomes more digitized and distracted, I think the role of artists - as makers of beauty, keepers of presence, and cultural truth-tellers - will only grow in importance.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I’ve had the privilege of showing my work at notable venues like The Other Art Fair by Saatchi Art in Chicago and the Superfine Art Fair on Fifth Avenue in New York City - both of which offered opportunities to engage with collectors and peers in meaningful ways. Being featured in New Visionary Magazine and the Arts To Hearts Project’s Creative Process Book 2024 was also affirming, especially as these platforms celebrate contemporary women artists and the evolution of artistic practice.”
