Life & Work with Talia Sullivan of Savannah Georgia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Talia Sullivan.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Born into a family of artists, I have been painting for as long as I can remember. My path to SCAD, however, was defined by an intersection of discipline and ambition. Recognizing that an athletic scholarship was my bridge to a US education, I took up competitive running with no prior experience. Though my recruitment was initially met with skepticism due to my late start, I was determined to prove my potential. This perseverance led me to SCAD, where I secured a cross-country scholarship that evolved into a full ride as my performance rapidly improved.

Now an MFA candidate, my practice has expanded into abstract landscapes infused with an Impressionist touch. My work is a direct reflection of my dual life as an artist and an athlete; it is deeply informed by nature, travel, and the visceral sense of movement. Having exhibited in London, Atlanta, Savannah, and Virginia, I continue to explore how the physical rhythm of the world translates onto the canvas.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey was never a smooth one; it was fueled by impulse and a raw intuition that led me to embrace the unknown—of a new country, a new sport, and a new academic path. That same intensity defines my studio practice today. Painting from memory is an exacting process; it requires me to mentally re-inhabit places I’ve left behind and reconcile the presence of people who have drifted in and out of my life. It is a demanding, often emotional immersion, where the toll of remembering becomes the very substance of the work.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I paint the places I have been, filtered through the hazy, vibrant lens of memory. Dominated by lush greens and deep blues, my landscapes carry an Impressionist touch, brought to life through large-scale canvases that command the physical space they inhabit. I am fascinated by the duality of the human figure: how we fit into the natural world while simultaneously transforming it. In my most recent work, I’ve embraced a more instinctive approach; my brushstrokes have grown looser and more confident, allowing the intuition of the moment to guide the final form.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I hope to evoke feeling in my paintings and communicate awe and gratitude of nature.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.taliasullivanart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taliasullivan.art/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talia-sullivan-55191a29b/