Olivia Sawai
Olivia Sawai, better known as O, might seem young but don't let that full you! Her talent and personality is relentless.
She met us at our first GMD market and we did a Q&A to get a deeper understanding of what makes her abstract art so refined that it seems effortless.
Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi! My name is Olivia Sawai, but I go by O because it gives me Oprah vibes, so I just rock with it 24/7! I was born in Long Beach (Cambodia Town), California and lived there during my infant years, but moved to the Inland Empire when I was about seven years old. I was raised in a small city called Rialto. Rialto was a rough city and continues to carry that reputation, but I will say that I learned to embrace everything about it because the environment has molded me into the person I am today. I went to Carter High School in Rialto and graduated in 2011. After graduation, my crazy journey began. I moved out at the age of eighteen and went back to live in Long Beach. I attended Cal State Fullerton and finally graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies in 2017. This is the part of my journey where I start receiving questions about my art background…and I’d love to reveal that the only art background I have is art history. I fell in love with art history and in my last year of college. I decided to create art just as a hobby to relieve stress. I painted on everything! I kept these pieces of work to myself until the summer of 2018 and that is when I decided to make an art Instagram for my work. I also did not have an Instagram for about three to four years, and so when I hopped back on the social media platform, I had to reteach myself how to navigate the app! It’s been quite a journey. Fast forward to today, I am still learning how to navigate the social media art world, but during this journey I’ve had the privilege and amazing opportunity to work with other artists and art companies! I currently have my art available on Slowdown Studio’s website which is so awesome because they were the first Instagram account that I followed when I made my IG! So I’m just extremely blessed for all the amazing opportunities I’ve been a part of so far and I’m ready to continue that energy into the new year.
Describe the art you do. What are your influences?
The art I do is abstract with the use of geometric and organic shapes. The most essential component of my art is the pattern that is interpreted by others as a cheetah or jaguar-like pattern, but it is my own interpretation of a camouflage pattern. The pattern adds texture and dimension to my work. Another component I love to have in my work is the influence of architecture. Architecture has been the forefront inspiration and influence for my work for this past year. I love to create my own interpretations of eclectic and modern architecture and add my own touches to it. My art is very colorful and vibrant. In the majority of my pieces, you will always see a circle. The circle indicates my name, O. It’s a way of leaving a signature within my work. In addition to the influences of architecture in my work, my other influences are women artists such as Kellyanna London and Mina Hamada. I absolutely love their work and I love what they stand for as women artists. They are total bad-asses! Their use of bright vibrant colors are brought to life by their compositions and that is an aspect that I admire in their artwork.
What role does color play in your art?
Color is the most important element in my work because it brings my shapes and patterns to life. I love vibrant and soft colors together, and I feel that my color palette is reflective of my interests and my personality. I’ve tried creating work with a monochromatic touch, but it was difficult for me because I felt like it was missing something and it was unbalanced. Color is necessary for my work. The combination of soft and vibrant colors reflect my perceptions about life. For example, everywhere I go, I am attracted to vibrant colors. It’s the first thing I see when I’m outside, walking or driving. As I see vibrant colors, my brain starts to create Pantone color palettes and I always either take photos of color inspiration or take notes on my phone so I won’t forget because my mind runs at 100 mph.
If you could meet any artist who would they be?
As mentioned earlier, I may have a girl crush on Kellyanna London. I would love to meet her! She’s such a fearless, hard working and authentic individual and it shows in her work. I am truly inspired by her art and her individualism in this crazy, competitive art world. I remember reading an interview she had with Wrap Magazine, and she basically said to never stop creating and continue to do YOU. As a small local artist, I have internal self-doubt conversations from time to time and when I read that, it really pushed me to just keep going. So thank you, Kellyanna!
“Embrace the challenges and see them as lessons.”
What is your mantra?
My mantra is to not be afraid to abandon your comfort zone(s). Being in a comfort zone is cool at times, but for me; I feel stagnant. I love challenges and I love to stretch my thinking at all times. I’m always open to trying new things, new food, meeting new people, and going to new places. It’s the Sagittarius in me! I think that sometimes it’s easier said than done, and I know this because it’s something I continue to practice everyday. However, I see my potential and knowing my worth motivates me to reach higher and to always strive for growth and improvement. Embrace the challenges and see them as lessons.
“Be fearless and relentless in everything that you do because pretty soon your voice will be heard and your work will speak for itself.”
What is the legacy you would like to leave as an artist?
The legacy I would like to be leave as an artist is that there are no damn rules to this art game! I want the world to know that you don’t have to major in art to become an artist, or you don’t have to follow any rules to express yourself as an artist. (Except to not plagiarize or steal) Be fearless and relentless in everything that you do because pretty soon your voice will be heard and your work will speak for itself. Also, I want other artists who are like me to know that it’s okay if your work isn’t getting recognition from social media in the beginning. If you love you work and love what you do, then the rest will follow.
