Xenia Gray

Contemporary figurative painter Xenia Gray unpacks how post-Soviet Siberia, spiritual retreats, and life in D.C. converge in canvases that pulse with raw feeling.Growing up in 1990s Siberia—creating a protective “shell” and turning to art for what words couldn’t sayFinding her visual voice later in life: mixed media, unseen faces, and the recent pivot to vivid greensCamino de Santiago, Vipassana silence, and yoga—how physical and spiritual practice cracked creative blocksShowing vulnerability without losing humor: balancing motherhood, UX day-work, and a fast-rising studio careerWhy D.C.’s tight-knit arts scene lets her thrive—and how she avoids the ego traps of trends and metricsCurious about the journey behind her latest series The Great Silence? Hit play, then browse her work at xeniagray.art.This episode was recorded at my creative home away from home, a hotel that's also a vibrant cultural center. Check out Eaton DC here.