Katya Leonovich: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became An Artist

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Follow your dream, no matter what. When I was younger, my grandmother wanted me to become a doctor, and I spent a lot of energy pushing back. In hindsight, I wish I had trusted my instincts sooner.

As a part of our series about “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became An Artist” I had the pleasure of interviewing Katya Leonovich.

Katya Leonovich is an internationally recognized artist and former fashion designer based in New York City. Originally from Russia, she gained prominence for her avant-garde designs before transitioning into fine art, where her bold paintings challenge societal norms and explore the dynamic relationship between fashion and art. Currently, she serves as owner of Leonovich Gallery, located in Chelsea, New York, where she showcases her art. Her most recent exhibition, American Renaissance, delves into themes of modern masculinity, power, and vulnerability, using surrealist elements and fauvist color palettes to depict male figures intertwined with animal symbolism. The gallery allows her to expand her artistic vision, pushing the boundaries of creative expression in one of the world’s most competitive art districts. Throughout her career, she has exhibited globally, earning acclaim for her unique blend of artistic expression and visionary approach.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I grew up immersed in art and learning. By day, I attended an English language school, and in the evenings, I went to art school. I loved spending time reading books about art history that my grandfather gave me. That’s when I knew I was meant to be an artist.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

I don’t think of it as a career — it’s more of a calling, a destiny, a passion. Art has always been my purpose, and fashion came as a natural extension of that. It was like creating “living art” through clothing, but my true love has always been fine art.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

One moment that stands out was during a fashion competition in Italy. Elio Fiorucci, a member of the jury, approached me and asked, “How can you create such bold and high-fashion pieces?” He was impressed, and I ended up winning the competition. It was a defining moment for me.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

Right now, I’m diving into my most exciting project yet — being both a painter and a gallery owner. My vision is to contribute to the art world as a female painter and to elevate other women’s voices through art. As a gallerist, I’m planning to showcase other women artists in a future project called “The Planet of the Better Self.”

Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?

I’ve had the chance to dress many well-known celebrities, but the people who have truly inspired me are fellow artists, collaborators, and those who participated in my art project Everyday Heroes. They each brought something unique to my creative journey.

Where do you draw inspiration from? Can you share a story about that?

There isn’t such a thing as inspiration for me in the traditional sense. I just live my life and make notes in a small black book. I sketch people sitting near me in restaurants, cut pages from newspapers with interesting images, or take screenshots from the internet. All of this information is filtered through my perspective and becomes a new art piece.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

Art, for me, is about revealing truth. It’s not about creating works that simply match someone’s decor. I believe art can send important messages and bring healing to the soul.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

  1. Follow your dream, no matter what. When I was younger, my grandmother wanted me to become a doctor, and I spent a lot of energy pushing back. In hindsight, I wish I had trusted my instincts sooner.
  2. Choose your company wisely. I’ve had experiences with people who took advantage of my generosity, and those relationships didn’t end well. Surround yourself with those who truly support you.
  3. Stay grounded. In moments of stress or when I wasn’t thinking clearly, I made mistakes that took time to recover from. It’s important to stay focused and balanced.
  4. Trust your intuition. There were times I ignored my own instincts, and it led to setbacks. I’ve learned to trust my own judgment — especially as a portraitist, where visual analysis is key.
  5. Be brave. This is something I’ve always strived for in my art and life — courage opens doors and brings new opportunities.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I’d start a movement that encourages people to break free from clichés and limiting beliefs. It would focus on nurturing individuality and creative expression. I would call it, “Away With Cliché And Spiritual Enslavement!”

We have been blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?

I would love to have lunch with Woody Allen. His creativity and unique perspective on life have always intrigued me, and I admire the depth of his work.

What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?

Here’s how you can find me online!

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Katya Leonovich: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became An Artist was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.