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

Hi AdrienneRose, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is necessary. I tend to overthink &/or over evaluate decisions but in the times where I have trusted that inner voice or gut instinct…& taken a risk… it has lead me in the right direction. Being an artist is the riskiest thing I feel I could ever do or be. It leaves you completely vulnerable, yet it is the most rewarding & most enlightening adventure. I tried to tiptoe around it most of my life & do the practical/realistic safe work but felt unhappy until I took the plunge into doing & being who I truly am… an artist.

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.
My work analyzes identity and cultural assumptions about fatness, beauty standards, embodiment, and fulfillment on and offline. I work with avatars to create inclusive environments in imagined digital worlds where fat-bodied women have it all. In doing this, I respond to limiting social standards imposed on me as a fat woman, from beliefs about acceptable norms within pop culture to personal fulfillment. challenging the limiting social standards imposed on women, from beliefs about personal empowerment to acceptable norms within pop culture.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ritchies Italian Ices, Fresh Kitchen (because PINK, healthy & delish), and down by the bay in the cooler months, where we can see manatees as the sun sets in the cotton candy sky. Bring back PearlArts! Till then, we can physically distance at your local Trader Joe’s searching for seasonal delights. If you wanna have the world by a tail…. & love mermaids…. Weeki Wachee is a dream of a time that once was… but don’t book a creepy camp crystal lake home with no reviews.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am who I am today because of the strength and perservience of the women in my family… especially my mother whom I lovingly call Mommy Dearest and my great aunt Francie who was my first art teacher. I’ve also been extremely fortunate and thankful to have such inspiring and giving mentors that have helped foster my passion and curiosity as well as the supportive and dynamic community of South Florida artists, cultural producers and organizations to continuously grow and learn with.

Website: https://www.adriennerosegionta.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtually_iarg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/90966163288

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR92y4dlv60

Other: https://vimeo.com/user6110823

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.