Interview
Vian Borchert
Vian Borchert is an acclaimed artist known for her expressionist style, characterized by a poetic take. Vian is a graduate and “Notable Alumni” of the Corcoran College of Art and Design at George Washington University in Washington, DC. Borchert has exhibited for many years in over 100 exhibitions in both group and solo exhibits worldwide. Borchert serves as the Art Lead for the Oxford Public Philosophy Journal, based at Oxford University, UK. Her work has been showcased internationally in museums and key galleries in major cities, including the Louvre's Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, Medinaceli DeArte Museo Contemporáneo in Spain, The SAM Museum in Pennsylvania, Bank Art Fair in Seoul, South Korea, Art3f International Contemporary Art Fair in Monaco at the prestigious Chapiteau de Fontvieille, AVA Art Festival in Osaka, Japan at Enokojima Art Centre, the World Bank in NYC, the Venice Biennale, Art Basel Miami Beach, the Corcoran Museum of Art, the historic Arts Club of Washington DC, Watergate gallery in DC, 1stDibs Design Center in NYC, along with embassies and numerous private collections.
Borchert’s artwork has been widely published in the press, appearing in over 100 publications including esteemed World Art News, Museum Week Magazine, and The Washington Post. She was recently named by MSN News as one of the “Top Women To Watch in 2026,” and as one of the “Top 10 Most Creative Artists in 2025” and listed by “Art Market Experts” among the most investable artists of 2025/2026. Borchert is also an art educator for two decades, teaching fine art classes in painting and drawing to adults in the Washington DC area in venues such as the historic Arts Club of Washington DC. Renowned for her expressionist style and what she defines as “visual poetry,” Borchert transforms the essence of nature into transcendental visual metaphors for personal journeys, the human condition, and our connection to a larger world. Borchert is recognized for her philosophies on art along with pioneering intellectual thought and creativity in the art world, while continuing to influence global art dialogue. Besides exhibiting her artwork in galleries in major cities, her artwork is available in world leading marketplaces “Artsy” and “1stdibs.”
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I am an American artist residing in the Washington, DC area. I come from Mediterranean roots, and having lived and traveled in different cities around the world, I consider myself an international artist. My art journey began as far back as I can remember, when I was a young child. I have always loved art and had a natural affinity for it. Born into an art-household, with an artist as a mother and an art lover, antique and art collector as a father, my understanding and appreciation of art began at a very early age. Attending art exhibitions and having artists and intellectuals visit and gather at our home was simply part of my childhood. In school, my artistic talents were apparent to my teachers, who encouraged me to continue pursuing art. In college, I attended the Corcoran College of Art & Design in Washington, DC, on scholarship and later worked with museums such as the Phillips Collection and the National Gallery of Art in DC, experiences that further strengthened my knowledge of art and helped cement my artistic path. After college, I traveled and collaborated with artists from diverse backgrounds through various projects and group exhibitions, further contributing to the growth and direction of my career. With over 100 exhibitions throughout the years and more than two decades of experience as an art educator in the DC area, my career has naturally come a long way. Today, I exhibit in museums and galleries in major cities such as New York City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Paris, Madrid, London, and beyond. And, my artwork is also available through premier art marketplaces such as ‘Artsy’ and ‘1stDibs.’”
What inspires you?
“Many things inspire me, yet my greatest source of inspiration comes from nature. I am deeply inspired by the beauty and abundance of our earth, from landscapes and forests to breathtaking seascapes, especially the Mediterranean Sea, with its endless blue hues ranging from aqua and turquoise to deep indigo. I would say that the Mediterranean Sea, beside which I was born and grew up, remains my greatest source of inspiration, particularly for the abstracted blue seascapes that I am known for. Light is another important source of inspiration for me. The transformative beauty of sunrise and sunset, the interplay of colors across the sky, and the ever-changing formations of clouds. These elements of nature continually find their way into my paintings, including my abstract seascapes, skyscapes, and cloudscapes.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“The themes I pursue are those that evoke rejuvenation, renewal, hope, and inner peace, qualities that I continually seek in my own life and aspire to cultivate through a life of balance and harmony. An underlying message in my work is an invitation to pause, take in the artwork, and allow oneself to become immersed in the visual and artistic experience it emits. I want the viewer to step away, even momentarily, from the worries and demands of everyday life and allow art to provide a sense of breathing space, reflection, and renewal. Ultimately, I hope my artwork can uplift, transcend, and elevate the viewer, offering a moment of solace and a feeling of being transported beyond the ordinary. This sense of rejuvenation and inner escape is the experience I seek to convey and leave as a lasting gift through my work.”
How would you describe your work?
“My artwork is expressionist with an abstracted touch, characterized by painterly surfaces, sweeping and bold brushstrokes, and an emphasis on soothing, calming colors such as blue, lavender, indigo, and other cool tones that create a sense of peace and harmony. My signature blue abstractions also incorporate colors that evoke the atmospheric beauty of sunrises and sunsets. Symbolism plays an important role in my work as well, with recurring elements such as columns opening into gateways and thresholds, distant spaces, and floating forms suspended along horizon lines that suggest infinity and the limitless possibilities of the human imagination and subconscious. Hence, I describe my work as ‘visual poetry,’ where lyrical abstractions are interwoven with philosophical ideas of infinity, the unknown, and the space beyond what we can see. Through my paintings, I invite viewers into a journey of discovery, both inward, toward the unexplored dimensions of oneself, and outward, toward the mysteries and infinite possibilities of the world and the universe.”
Which artists influence you most?
“The artist I find myself returning to over and over again, even though his work differs from mine, is Claude Monet. I feel a kindred spirit with him, and the more I study his biography, artistic approach, and even his lifestyle, the more I find parallels with my own. Like Monet, I am deeply drawn to nature, continually studying my subjects and the transformative effects of light, and seeking a sense of joie de vivre through both life and art. His immersion in his Japanese garden and his lifelong exploration of nature resonate deeply with what I strive to create through my own work. Among other masters, I also greatly admire Anselm Kiefer, whose monumental, larger than life landscapes, rich in abstraction and layered with diverse materials and textures, are a feast for my eyes. Richard Diebenkorn is another artist whose work I deeply enjoy. His paintings of the California landscape and the undulating streets and spaces of California, a place I know well from having lived there, feel both intriguing and refreshing to me and hold a special place in my heart.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process begins with getting myself into the right frame of mind to create. I prefer to wake up very early, often at the crack of dawn before anyone else is awake, and enter the studio while the world is still quiet. Standing before the canvas, surrounded by an abundance of paints, I enter my painting process with a great deal of physical energy. My work requires bodily movement, sweeping gestures, and an energetic yet controlled hand to achieve the expression and movement I envision. An early cup of strong coffee, naturally, helps lubricate the creative juices and gets the process flowing. As I paint, I constantly examine the work: stopping, stepping back, looking, studying, and determining what the composition may still need. I often think of myself as a conductor leading a symphony, except that my instruments are colors and my brushes become the conductor's baton. The music I hear within me is translated into a visual language on the canvas. Sometimes I work in complete silence, while at other times I play soothing jazz melodies that carry me rhythmically through the process. I usually work on a series of paintings at a time, allowing the works to develop and become an entity as they evolve.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“The role of an artist in society, in my view, is to open people’s eyes to the beauty and transformative power of art, both through the work itself and through sharing the ideas and stories behind it. Of course, every artist has their own purpose and mission in this regard, but for me, my artwork serves as a bridge to my subconscious, allowing new ideas, emotions, and visual languages to emerge and communicate with the viewer and the wider public. I believe that immersing oneself in art can be a form of elevation and an opportunity to enter a deeper inner world through the experience of taking in a work and allowing it, much like music, to touch and transform one’s life. In this sense, I believe art can have a profoundly positive role in society, encouraging greater reflection, imagination, and appreciation for beauty while contributing to a more thoughtful, sophisticated, and ultimately more beautiful world.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Yes, I 've had numerous ones, here is a list of some of most noteworthy exhibits:
• Summer 2026: Solo Exhibition ‘LUMINOUS’ exclusively presented by ‘Artsy’
• Summer - Fall 2026: "The American Mosaic", Watergate Gallery, Washington DC
• Winter 2026: Elevation, Vika Gallery, Washington DC
• Winter 2026: Beyond the Horizon, Watergate Gallery, Washington DC.”
