Meet Amanda Morie: Artist & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Morie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, what role has risk played in your life or career?
It was once said by Helen Keller, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” At every crossroad in life there is risk of one kind or another. If you choose one road, there is the risk associated with the road not taken. It’s hard not to wonder “what if?” and I would tell you that taking calculated chances helps you stand out and brands you as forward thinking and visionary. I also believe risk-taking can be practiced. The more you practice taking risks, the more comfortable you will become with the emotional discomfort that can accompany it. Over the past few years, it has become a made practice of doing something every day that takes me out of my comfort zone. Whether it’s going somewhere new, talking to a company about my art or photography that I dreamed to work with or doing something that just physically makes my heart race and when I get that feeling I know the risk I’m taking is going to be well worth it. For bigger risks plan ahead and know how you’d handle what could be a risky situation before you’re in it. Ask yourself all the questions, have a plan A and B and lay out all the little risks you have to take in order to make the jump into the bigger one. Not taking the risk is a risk in itself and being open to risk, I believe, has really propelled my creative forces out into the world. There is a difference between dreaming about something vs actually doing anything about it. I am not one to sit back and wait for things to come to me. If I want something done, I will find a way to achieve it by putting those necessary habits into place and really reflecting, adjusting and growing along the way. 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Thank you so much for following my work, it really means a lot! Let me tell you, I remember the day that day Vogue called me for the first time. It was in 2019 and I was having breakfast at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and I couldn’t finish my breakfast after the call because I was so shook. Having been an awarded artist that already published their own book, shown at the Carousel de Louvre and Eiffel Tower in Paris, Armani Hotel in Dubai, had my artwork shown on multiple TV shows like the Block Australia and Rachael Ray USA, displayed in Museums and art fairs like NY Art Expo and being carried by multiple art galleries internationally, Vogue was really at the top of one of my WOW moments, me in Vogue? Like WOW, pinch me. After being featured in Vogue not only once but three times, along came Vanity Fair and then being labeled as “Top 100 Women in Business” by Chanel. In the meantime, I slowly started to take my photography and art more seriously and moved to Barcelona to set up my studio there in old cava winery. It was always a dream of mine to work as an artist in Spain at least once in my life so I could feel the slightest feelings that one of my artistic inspirations, Picasso, felt as he grew up, lived and painted there. Once back in Spain I also started learning the ins and outs of ceramics and designed my first jewelry line with semi-precious stone, clay and freshwater pearls that was released during covid in 2020. Covid definitely provided me with a surplus of time to think about where I wanted to go artistically and creatively and I think for the first time I felt that all my worldly travels, photography, art and fashion designs finally started to blend and coexist with one another. “Devastated” would be the correct word for the feelings I felt once Covid started to shut down the world. I lost a huge contract to do all the paintings for the new Hilton Hotel in Budapest, Hungry, I lost the opportunity to move to Milan to work on a collection of artworks that were to be displayed at the Duomo for Florence Design Week in Italy and receive my award from the Italian government for “Best Modern Painter” and so much more. I believe that when you manifest what you want you can get it and I did not want to let it discourage me. During Covid Vogue Italia reached out to me and hired me as a lifestyle/ fashion photographer and then in the last week of 2020 I signed a one-year contract with Esquire Magazine to shoot their upcoming fashion campaigns. Through my photography my need to paint realistic fashion paintings developed again and I found myself starting to paint in this style along with my popular concrete abstracts. Also, during Covid I designed a print line for Temple and Webster (an interior design company in Australia) and found myself fantastic art curators to work with in the Fort Lauderdale/ Miami area called Twenty6North with Maxwell Doytier and Julia Kushner. Even though there are loads of obstacles in the way every day the habits and mindset we take on build upon one another compile into larger, something magical. Without hard work, reflection and motivation to always level up I don’t think I would be where I am today.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As Lil Kim once said “…but this is Miami, you can’t come to Miami and not show any skin. You gotta show something. If you’re all covered up in this heat, you’re gonna make me pass out just to look at you. It’s sweaty in Miami-but the diamonds will keep me cool.” This quote from Lil Kim is so true about Miami, it’s a muy fuego city in all ways and you need to bring it some way or another. That is why I will always call it my “home” because it pushes me to LEVEL up. Always. One of the best things I believe you can do when travelling is to really immerse yourself in the city and its culture. One way I like to do this is by booking a night or a couple nights in a different hotel in different parts of the city. Why this has benefits is because you’re enjoying the local restaurants, day/night life, meeting new people and most importantly gaining more time to explore because you’re commuting only within the area plus experiencing different hotels and what they have to offer. Here is my insider’s guide to the three top areas in Miami to check out and gain a “level up” during your vacation. 1) South Beach is definitely the best area to stay in Miami because of its architectural attractions, beaches and nightlife. From a historical point of view, here you can find the Miami Beach Architectural District, also known as the Art Deco District, an architectural area included in the US National Register of Historic Places containing one of the largest concentrations of art nouveau, art deco and early avant-garde architecture in the world. With Ocean Drive as its main thoroughfare, this colorful district houses hotels, bars, restaurants (check out Espanola Way) and attractions such as the home of the late Italian designer Gianni Versace or the famous Millionaires Row. South Beach is also the area where you can find some of the most famous beaches in town where you can catch some stunning sunrises while catching a surf or bike along its seaside promenade. South Beach also hosts the big art fairs like Scope Miami, The Other Art Fair and Art Basel. If you want to feel ultra-luxurious Faena Hotel Miami Beach is theatrical fantasia in red, gold and tiger print, dusted with the mind-blowing 24K gold contemporary art of the famous Damien Hurst. In the evening they host private VIP events that are known to be in attendance of filmmakers and movie stars. I have attended one of these events before and let me tell you I felt I was in another world. If you looking to start your day with a not so boring breakfast and an ultra-cool vibe, I would highly recommend the 4.3 star rating BACONBitch on Collins Ave or for an ultra-healthy modern breakfast Pura Vida Miami on Washington Ave is a great choice too with a 4.5 star rating. Head to Front Porch Cafe for lunch and then to Havana 1957 Cuban Cuisine for an authentic dinner or to Smith & Wollensky for an upscale oceanside surf and turf . One of my favorite hidden little gems for cocktail hour is Broken Shaker and then Hyde Beach or Nikki Beach for the outdoor lounge/ pool nightclub experience right on the ocean. 2) Want to jump into the hustle and bustle for a little bit? Downtown/ Brickell area of Miami has loads of fantastic things to do to get the wow experience. Whether it’s hiring a seaplane to fly over the city or boat through the Miami riverfront or dine at exquisite oceanfront restaurants or rooftop bars, this area has it all. I’d recommend staying at the SLS LUX Brickell Miami because it not only has one rooftop pool but two roof top pools and hotubs, golf course and gym! It has a modern colorful exterior as well that standouts from other hotels and is a two-minute walk to the tram. Food in Downtown Miami has a distinct Hispanic flavor. This gastronomic influence has evolved due to the migration of people from countries such as Cuba and Peru who have settled in the district. It’s impossible to be in Downtown Miami and not taste some of this flavorsome cuisine. One of the best restaurants, with a 5 star rating, to go to is CVI.CHE 105 on NE 3rd Avenue. It’s a bright and modern establishment which serves traditional Peruvian, and Inca inspired dishes and I promise you anything you order on the menu is going to be fantastic. In the morning grab some breakfast at the highly rated 4.5 star restaurant B Bistro & Bakery and lunch at Perricone’s Marketplace & Café where swanky-meets-casual dining in a luxurious Italian garden. 3) Last but not least, one of my favorite districts in the whole world is Wynwood Art District. If you are any type of creative this is the place to be. ALL, yes all, the streets are covered with graffiti, every inch of it! Like I said this area promotes creativity and it won’t be hard to be like a kid high on sugar here (I definitely felt over simulated the first time I came here lol). Now you can’t really stay in this area so I I would recommend staying in Miami Design District, a neighborhood dedicated to innovative fashion, design, architecture and gastronomic experiences. This area, located in the northeastern part of downtown Miami (Miami Midtown), has become a vibrant destination for residents and visitors, encompassing the best shopping, culinary and culinary experiences within an architecturally significant context. The Miami Design District embodies a unique dedication to the unity of design, fashion, art and architecture, and a commitment to foster a neighborhood of creative experiences. It is, therefore, a luxury area in which some of the most important brands in the world meet, where high-end shopping is a lifestyle and is a close drive to immerse oneself in the Wynwood activities. Top recommendation to stay is Hyde Midtown Miami, which has an incredible location (4 min drive to Wynwood), incredible attention to detail right down to the top-notch fixtures in the rooms and complimentary Starbucks right in the lobby. Amongst the fun things to do in Wynwood is eat and drink, of course! There are several restaurants in the neighborhood (all within walking distance) including: Wynwood Kitchen and Bar: Dine amongst the murals! This restaurant is in the heart of the murals, which is called Wynwood Walls. There are also really great shops scattered throughout the area from local artisans and stellar cafes sprinkled in between. The evening brings some of the best live music and dance clubs such as BRiCK which has the cities best beer gardens/live music/ dance club combined in one and all under the stars! All in all, wherever you stay in Miami you will leave leaving inspired, sun kissed and hopefully on to the next level up.   Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Shoutout is going to one of my best friends who I met in Alaska in 2016 when we both were art dealers and ended up traveling the whole world for a year. You know when you first meet someone and you get that type of feeling of “yep they are meant to be in your life forever?”, that kind of feels? That is the way I felt when I first met Katlin Spain. She is this stunningly wild yet quiet boss babe that is making waves in the art world in Florida. Wherever we were she would bring her sketchbook with her, sketch a diary of her day or surroundings and they were always like a nostalgic breath of fresh air. Peeking into her sketchbook is like diving deep into a beautiful world that I didn’t know existed but was excited to find out about. Through out our travel year we would hunt down art stores and sometimes would paint in local coffee shops or restaurants while we were eating. We organized and curated fine art events and live auctions and always kept inspiring each other through the art and world around us. As an abstract artist, Katlin works to deconstruct familiar shapes & associations by changing their colors, textures, & patterns. She carefully curates them into landscape-like environments where these new objects can coexist. She is also a Co- Owner of Ocean Blue Studios in Key West, Florida and hosts live art events, gallery exhibitions and studio painting. As one of my main support systems in the world of art, Katlin is effortlessly flawless in her fluidity of creating an inspiring world around her and I am so happy to be part of it. You can check out her art at katlinspain.comand her handle is @kspvin

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