Name: Niki Woehler
Age: young enough to try something crazy, old enough to know when it’s too crazy.
Title: Contemporary Artist
Married/Single: in a relationship
Kids: 3
City you live in: Phoenix
A typical day in my life includes…
meditation when I have the patience for it (yes I see the irony in this), painting, manage social media , check in with the galleries that represent my work, touching base with interior designers I’m working with on custom projects, being a mom, running a household, finding inspiration for my next painting.
I was born…
in Toronto Canada. I moved to the USA in 1993, Arizona specifically in 1995.
My favorite thing about Arizona…
the light here is incredibly special. The only other places with it that I’ve seen are NM and southern California. It’s magical. The sunrises and sunsets are quite spectacular, and my most favorite thing, the smell of the orange blossoms. I live in Arcadia, which is where the old orchards used to be, so we have citrus trees everywhere. The scent is something I’d miss for the rest of my life if I moved away.
I’m listening to…
right now I’ve got Bob Moses, Maggie Rogers, Billie Eilish King Princess, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds on loop.
My family…
is my reason for everything. They inspire me, support me, push me, make me laugh, make me a better human. They taught me what love is, and what matters most in this world.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
that’s a tough one. There are so many people I’d love to share a meal and a glass (or three) of wine with, for different reasons. Robin Williams because his characters have made me feel so much over the years, and I’d love the opportunity to tell him just how much I adored him, what he meant to me and so many others, and to hear his story(ies). Steve Jobs because he was a true visionary and maverick, and I’d love to pick his brain. Keith Richards because the stories would be insane and so entertaining (and we all need to start thinking about what kind of world we’re leaving for him). But if I had to choose just one, I think I would choose Nelson Mandela. In my opinion, he was the very definition of a beautiful soul, and sharing a meal and conversation with him would be nothing short of inspiring.
One thing I cannot live without…
love. It rules my world. It is the cornerstone of everything I do and am. Love for my family, my man, my friends, my art, for this planet, and the humans that make it the beautiful place it is.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
a rock star. Which probably drives those who have to listen to me singing at the top of my lungs whenever I get the chance, nuts. Sorry everyone.
I’m inspired by…
beauty. Not physical beauty, but the beauty that humans show to each other, a beautiful sunset, beautiful art, food made with love, music, the innocence of children.
The one person who motivates me is…
me. We can be temporarily affected by the words or actions of another, but ultimately, we have to push ourselves every single day to be the best version of us we can be.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…
our lack of connectedness as humans. Somewhere along the line we’ve forgotten the most important parts of life. It’s not about money, or things, it’s about the relationships we have and how we connect with others. It’s about loving each other, even if we don’t see eye to eye on everything. I think technology, smart phones and computers, have created an environment where we spend far too much time looking at a screen, and not nearly enough time being present, being kind, being tolerant or even polite. We choose to stare at an endless stream of media, making comments, instead of having real dialog, connecting, with real people.
The perfect day would be…
spent wandering the streets of some foreign city, exploring, laughing, and spending time with the people I love the most. If it happened to be precipitated because my art was being shown in a fantastic gallery or show there, even better.
My first job was…
working in a deli, slicing meat and cheese. Every day I was terrified I’d lose a finger. I lasted about three months before I decided that was enough and went to work at a nursery selling plants. It seemed like a wise decision, then and now, in retrospect.
My favorite escape…
travel. There’s nothing that rejuvenates and inspires me like it. Whenever I return from a trip, my art is always filled with passion.
My life…
is beautiful. I feel so incredibly fortunate to live the life I do. Filled with people I love, experiences that enrich my soul, and art. I get to do what I love for a living. How cool is that???
I’m currently working on…
so many projects! I have a solo show at The Found:Re downtown Phoenix in May, new works for the galleries in Aspen and Telluride for summer, several projects for interior designers in LA, a collaboration with David Adler Fine Rugs, where we’re turning my art into beautiful hand knotted rugs, and the big one…aluminum panels, huge aluminum panels that can be joined seamlessly to create entire walls of my art!
Always…
follow your dreams. Life is so damned short. Do what makes you happy. It might not be easy, but it will always be worth it.
Never…
give up on yourself or your dreams.
Favorite Quote…
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square hole. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
Biggest Dream…
to spend my days painting beautiful art, in a fabulous studio somewhere along the coast of Italy, my children and grandchildren close by, visiting regularly, dinners with friends and family at a huge table under a sweeping tree covered in little white lights, drifting off to a peaceful sleep every night in the arms of the love of my life. A long, healthy life, filled with love, laughter, music, art, friends and travel.
My Pet Peeve(s)…
the red tape of life; anything mundane, intolerance, stupidity, myopic people, a fly in my freshly poured glass of wine, and dirty dishes on the counter. I know…first world problems.
