Interview
Marisa Muliadi-Kleiber
Art has always been a part of Marisa’s life. Growing up in a family where creativity was woven into the fabric of daily life, she could not help but be influenced by the vibrant colors and intricate designs that surrounded her. Her art is inspired by the tropical colors and lively flora and fauna of Java, Indonesia, where her roots lie. Over the years, Marisa has found that these bright, playful hues are not just beautiful—they carry a deeper meaning. They bring joy, simplicity, and a sense of happiness to anyone who takes a moment to connect with them. Art runs through her family’s veins, and it was from her father that she first learned to truly appreciate its beauty. On her father's side, architecture and art were always intertwined. Every generation had a painter, and Marisa happened to be the one who gravitated toward it most.
From a young age, Marisa’s father took her to local galleries and antique stores, teaching her how to curate art and explaining its value. She became fascinated by how art could communicate emotions, tell stories, and capture the essence of a culture, especially the rich tradition of Javanese art that continues to influence her work today. It was during those early years that Marisa discovered her love for painting—an interest that would stay with her for a lifetime.
Despite her deep love for art, Marisa chose a different path early in life. She moved to California to study Civil Engineering, driven by a desire to understand the structural side of buildings. She decided not to pursue architecture, knowing that the artistic part would always live within her. She was curious to learn how architects and engineers work together—and sometimes clash—in their vision of how a building should come to life.
For 31 years, Marisa worked as a civil engineer while continuing to paint as a hobby. The logic of engineering and the creativity of painting coexisted in her life, each providing balance and a sense of fulfillment. It wasn’t until 2.5 years ago, when she retired, that Marisa decided to embrace her true passion and dedicate herself fully to painting. Since then, she has immersed herself in the world of color, art, and storytelling, using her paintings to explore and express her life experiences. Every brushstroke feels like an opportunity to communicate something deeper, something personal, and most of all, something joyful.
One of the things Marisa has always loved about art is its ability to connect people. As she paints, she gets lost in the colors and the stories they tell. For her, color is not just something she sees—it’s something she feels.
Marisa’s paintings are a fusion of bright, tropical colors that reflect the beauty of nature and Javanese culture. They carry a sense of joy and warmth, inviting the viewer to pause and experience the playfulness and simplicity that she finds so satisfying. Through these colors, she aims to create a space where people can reflect on their own lives, see their own stories, and, hopefully, find a connection to something beautiful.
For Marisa, art is about connection. She wants her paintings to be more than just visual objects; she intends them to be a bridge between people. She hopes others will experience the same joy and happiness she feels when creating. Through her art, she seeks to bring people together—whether it’s someone finding personal joy in her work or connecting with another person through shared emotions and experiences.
“See Color and Get Connected” is her motto. It’s a simple idea, but one she believes holds incredible power. Whether through the intricate patterns and rich tones of Javanese-inspired flora and fauna or the joyful simplicity of a bold color palette, Marisa’s paintings aim to inspire happiness and connection. In a world where everyone is constantly moving, she hopes her art gives people a chance to pause, reflect, and connect with something that resonates on a deeper level.
Now that she has embraced painting full time, Marisa is more excited than ever to share her work with the world. Through her paintings, she intends to continue spreading joy, fostering connection, and creating a space where people can come together through the power of color. Whether in a gallery, a home, or online, she hopes her art brings a little more happiness to those who encounter it, and that the connections formed through it are lasting and meaningful.
In the end, art is about sharing and experiencing joy—and Marisa is grateful to be able to do that through her work every day.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was always painting since I was young. My parent took all of us, 5 sibling to the Jakarta Art Center once a month or more for painting experience where I was having the best experienced. And our family makes painting as part of our life or activities. Despite of anyone's professional, painting will be part of their life. They will hung their own painting in their house or some other artist's paintings. My farther owned a few Balinese paintings he bought in Bali during our trips. He will took me to street markets of art and antique markets. My father often took me to art galleries and owner galleries where they show original paintings and some of paintings that the artist still working on the painting in Jakarta, and Bali, I had also seen some of the painting galleries in Jogyakarta, middle of Java. I also visited many places where they painted batik clothes, table cloths or sarong. The images are carved in my mind and inspired me and gave me comfort. So much to absorb for young mind. And the cultural experience I had of other Indonesian island style of arts and identity felt as it was bombarded to me. But now it become more engraved in me as more sparse but yet ingrane in me naturally. I also had many experience with some of European influence and my upbringing. Indonesia was colonized by the Dutch for a long time.
Through religion influence, I also have images in my mind that play roles in my painting and visions. That was the origin of my painting experience. Although I started and work as a civil engineer through out my career, as much as keep painting once I found a place to settle down. I was a generation that steered away from architectural in my patrilineage. My grandfather, father and my son were and architect. I am the civil engineer who painted, I was rebelling to expand outside the architecture. I though I like to study about concrete more and the structure as well as having art influence in my work. After retired about 3+ years ago, I startd painting full time. I did not have any formal painting experiences except a few college classes and art retreats the last 2 years which i enjoyed very much. I am starting to build my full time painting business in February 2025 where I rented a painting studio and develop my website and social media, painting a lot and looking for any opportunity to move towards the painting business where it will provide me to paint excessively despite my limited space and funds.”
What inspires you?
“What inspired me in my paintings are beauty. Beauty of landscapes, animal, natures, moment, feelings, connections, items, ritual, culture and people. Now I will take photo when I see a beauty so I will remember. And color is my primary inspirations. Usually and continuously, I will have images and feeling in my mind, and it keep circulating in me until I painted. When I have those kind of images, the best possible way for me is to go to an art store. There, I will walk the color isle until I find the color, the perfect color that will stop me. I will pick a couple color and painted. Sometimes, I pick the color I had already owned in my studio. Then. I can not wait to go to get it going. My emotions and exploded feeling also an inspiration for me. I will feel that my feeling are so explosive with joy, or happiness and connection that I can not wait to see it. I like to paint my feelings and emotions. Therefore, I like to built connection through my painting to the audiences. I have pure gratitude and enjoyment to hear what other can tell me about their story and feeling through my painting.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“Happiness, uplifting and beauty. I see color and get connected is my motto I like to bring happiness in daily life, some uplifting, easy going, fun, celebration and freedom. There are so much sorrow and complication in out day to day life with small and large issues. I want my painting to make people see everything from above, to fly above the problem and to feel and understand that those miscible feeling can be taken to. a larger proportion and therefore it will not overwhelming them or unnecessarily affect them negatively. Or I am hoping that my painting, the color will tke their sorrow away.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is my original abstract surrealism. I may not follow too much directions or fit into any style. I use any material that are around me or I found that absolutely needed in my painting. I have imaginations and find a way to bring my imagination alive through medium or items that are available around me. I also like to try any new material and methods, it’s makes me feel so excited and totally motivated to jump on it at once. That makes it so exciting and I go crazy because of it. With music, I dance and paint. So, my work is a natural connection to what I feel and what I see in my mind. It does not always have any clear body for it, just the color is enough will bring the body, figure or scribbles that unique relates to each individual viewer.”
Which artists influence you most?
“If we talk about the most classic famous artist in our life time and history, probably Matisse, Monet and Von Gaugh. Sometimes Gustav Klim since I like to use gold paper. I did not realize earlier but other people reminds me of Gustav Klim. I also like the painting and color of Bruce Paretto of California. His painting makes me feel that I recognize the painting very much. I feel it has a lot of similarity or maybe talking to me as if I understand it. This is the latest experience I have. All the other older artist from the history makes me feel good to see the simplicity of their stroke and beautiful color they presented. It somehow humourous and playfull in their presentation. And absolute beauty in their simplicity. As for Rembrant, I envy him for being able to paint so flawlessly of figurative paintings. I also like Michael Angelo for all the paintings at the European churches. It is very breath taking. Gaudi also another painter who inspired me in his courage to do what he wants. I found it difficult to let go completely disregardinng space, color, shapes and perspective. It is the braveness and the confidence to crate that encourage me to follow myself more and disregarding the limit and current rules set by general society. I envy his originallity.”
What is your creative process like?
“The creative process for me is to get going because without it, I carry the paintings and images too long and drive. me nuts. So, I pick out a color or painted in my mind with specific material and looks, and gather the items I need and go. Sometimes, what I painted came out completely different that my thought. I would feel a little depressed but obliged to keep going and finishing it according to what I see and feel at the time. If I follow my heard and kept going without stalling and thinking too much, my painting will look much more desirable and understood. Otherwise, somehow I will have what is in my mind in the middle of the busy ness and ‘chaos’ as some may say. I do not like to call it chaos myself. I lie to call it that my canvas is too narrow or small. Because if it is painted in an appropriate canvas, it can be stretch out where more things can be unfolded. That is my opinion. The paintings and pictured are jumbled together and makes it looks like a big jumble.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“An artist’s role in society is to create an alternative reality. To bring awareness of some options in way of thinking and feeling. Artists can provoke the underlying desires, thoughts, intentions and awareness. Artists can clarify doubts of principals and choices by giving people a space to explore and looking at things outside the box. Artists also brings about feelings and validates them. Validating the feeling that once what appears is yet real and able to be felt while seeing a certain paintings or art. Artists dream consciously. Artists can create subconscious reality. It is evolving because everyone can be an artist and a lot mor people are involved and feel more comfortable making arts. This is because there are more art coaches and lesson to teach art and introduce art to others and accept more people to be an artist. Historically, artists were only a special person who was allowed to do the artist work. And it is a special talent that was not available to most of common people. Now there are a lot more people doing art, painting and feeling comfortable with art. Just like math, people use to believe math is only for a certain talent and people. But math can be done by anyone, It need to be introduce on how to do math and what is behind math and how to get involved. Not just throwing a number and solving it. There are too many people that could do math but did not do it because they were just discourage because of other people's opinion who do not actually have a real talent in them. The same with art.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I’ve been part of the exhibition: Women's 10xTEN at The New Faultling Gallery in earlier this year. My art was also shown at the Grooves Album Art Tribute Show earlier this year.”
