Interview
Tricia Seymour-Barrier
Life is art—woven with enigmatic textures that beckon us to explore deeper realms of being. From her earliest days, Dr. Tricia Seymour-Barrier walked a path lightly dusted with wonder, blessed by parents who saw the spark in her eyes and nurtured her originality and inquisitive spirit. Yet beneath the surface of encouragement was an unspoken invitation: to seek the mysteries hiding in plain sight, and to let her creativity wander in uncharted territory. As a Transpersonal Psychologist, Dr. Tricia has become an explorer of the unseen, diving into the labyrinth of the human psyche where shadows and light coexist. Even as a child, she sensed that her passion lay in unraveling the universal riddles—those shimmering questions at the heart of existence. Her art, visionary and vital, is not merely an expression but an ongoing quest. Each brushstroke becomes an echo of longing for wholeness, a whisper of the mysteries she has glimpsed within.
Guided by her profound connection to Source, Dr. Tricia moves through life as if dancing on the edge of revelation. The flow of her creativity is a living current, infusing both her art and her days with vibrant color, palpable movement, and endless layers of texture. In every piece, in every moment, she invites us to pause, to wonder—to sense the living mystery that animates both art and life.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I describe myself as a ‘late bloomer’ in my professional art career. Although creativity has always been intrinsic to who I am, I began consistently creating and selling my abstract work in 2024, in my 60s. I was fortunate to grow up in a home where imagination and curiosity were actively nurtured. My parents encouraged exploration, inquiry, and authenticity. Art, music, movement, and making things by hand were woven into daily life. Creativity was never framed as exceptional; it was simply a way of engaging with the world. I am primarily self-taught, supplemented by various in-person and online art courses over the years. In adulthood, my creative drive expressed itself through entrepreneurship. I built businesses, solved complex problems, and translated ideas into tangible outcomes. Even when I was not painting, I was still engaged in the creative act, just through different mediums. I’ve always been motivated by learning, growth, and the challenge of evolving into new forms of expression.”
What inspires you?
“My primary inspiration arises from my spiritual connection to what I call ‘Source,’ or the ‘All That Is.’ My academic and professional background in transpersonal psychology, hypnosis, and guided imagery has given me both a language and a framework for entering altered states of awareness — states in which the analytical mind softens and intuitive perception comes forward. In that space, painting becomes both meditative and revelatory. I recognize a work as complete not through intellectual resolution, but through an energetic sense of stillness, a moment when striving dissolves and the piece feels internally coherent and alive. Through this process, I invite viewers to slow down, feel, and connect. My intention is for abstraction to function not as a depiction of the outer world, but as a shared encounter with inner experience, spiritual presence, and transformation.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“My work explores the mystical and interior dimensions of human experience. Through color, texture, and movement, I create visual environments that encourage pause, reflection, and inward attention. Each painting becomes a dialogue with the unseen, a meeting place where intuition and technique intersect. I am drawn to experimentation and variation in style, but the underlying throughline is consistent: I aim to create art that evokes curiosity, contemplative awareness, and a sense of spiritual connection. The most rewarding moment for me occurs when a piece is complete and I can step back and feel the energetic presence of what has emerged. There is often a quiet sense of awe, as though I have witnessed something come through rather than simply constructed it.”
How would you describe your work?
“I use non-objective abstraction as a language for accessing deeper emotional and spiritual strata of experience. My work emerges through listening rather than control. Rather than constructing narrative imagery, I work in a state of flow in which gesture, color, and movement become carriers of psychological and energetic resonance. Each canvas functions as a conduit for material that exists beneath conscious thought. Subtle inner shifts — emotional, intuitive, and spiritual — are translated into visual form. The result is work that is less about representation and more about presence: an invitation into felt experience rather than intellectual interpretation.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I am deeply influenced by the spiritual foundations of abstraction articulated by artists such as Wassily Kandinsky and Helen Frankenthaler. What resonates most strongly for me is their shared understanding of abstraction as a vehicle for inner and spiritual experience rather than representation. Kandinsky’s conception of painting as a spiritual language, capable of conveying vibration, emotion, and resonance, aligns closely with my own approach. Similarly, Frankenthaler’s openness to process, movement, and the intelligence of the medium reflects my trust in flow and emergence. Neither artist sought to impose literal imagery; instead, they responded to what wanted to unfold. Their work reinforces my understanding of abstraction as a receptive practice grounded in intuition and the quiet intelligence of the creative process itself.”
What is your creative process like?
“I describe myself as an Intuitive Alchemist — transforming emotion and subtle energetic experience into color, texture, and form. My artwork is more channeled than manufactured; each piece unfolds through attentive listening rather than deliberate control. Before beginning, I take time to center myself through breathwork, aromatherapy, and music. In this grounded yet receptive state, I often perceive an inner impression, an image or energetic signature of the work that is waiting to emerge. From there, I allow the process to evolve organically, translating what I sense into physical expression. While this approach may seem unconventional, for me it is a natural extension of my spiritual orientation. Over time, I have learned to trust this process more fully, allowing the work to guide me. I know a painting is complete when I experience a gentle inner quiet — a sense of stillness, coherence, and rightness. The finished piece feels both deeply personal and connected to something larger than myself.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I see the artist’s role as both reflective and generative. Artists help make the invisible visible — translating emotional, psychological, cultural, and spiritual undercurrents into forms that can be seen, felt, and contemplated. In this way, art becomes a bridge between inner experience and collective awareness. It offers language where words often fall short and art creates spaces where people can encounter themselves more honestly. I also see the artist’s role evolving toward greater interdisciplinarity and consciousness. As psychology, spirituality, neuroscience, and the arts continue to intersect, creative practice is being recognized not merely as aesthetic production but as a mode of inquiry and healing. Art has the capacity to regulate, to open perception, and to reconnect individuals with a sense of depth and wholeness. Ultimately, I believe artists contribute by expanding the field of human possibility. Through imagination, vulnerability, and attunement to subtle experience, we help society remember dimensions of being that are easily overlooked — wonder, introspection, and connection to something larger than the individual self.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have been honored to participate in 37 exhibitions in 2025, an exciting and affirming period of growth in my professional practice. Since 2024, I have sold over 100 original works and have had the privilege of connecting with collectors who view art as an experiential and personal journey rather than simply an acquisition. Looking ahead, I am especially excited that in 2026 my work will be exhibited internationally, including in the United States, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Greece, and Monaco. These opportunities reflect not only expanding visibility, but a growing resonance between my work and audiences across cultures.”
