Interview with Dany Green

Do you think you would have started creating mosaics if you had never explored Isaiah Zagar’s Magic Gardens? Can you speak on the importance of installations and public art displays in inspiring new creators?

Would I have ever become a mosaic artist if I had not visited the Magic Gardens? I think so. Ever since I was a child, I picked up new mediums. I’ve had short stints of painting, drawing, photography, pottery, baking, etc. The idea of me picking up mosaics at some point was inevitable (especially being from the Philly area). 

But would I have attached to it with such vigor and devotion? Probably not. Zagar’s work is very nontraditional and he not only introduced me to the medium of mosaics, but he also changed my definition of “art”. He used materials that would typically be discarded like rusted bicycle wheels, wine bottles, and broken mirrors. Before seeing his work, I thought of art as this very definite thing but afterward, I realized that I could make art out of anything.

Public art is important because it can reach people, like younger me, who otherwise may have very limited exposure to art. I believe that good public art connects with people on an immediate visceral level. It has to be accessible. And that is powerful.

Dany Green, Spice Drip, 2018, Stained Glass Mosaic

What made you take the leap to build a creative brand?

It was less of a leap and more of a slow, steady walk toward becoming an artist. Choosing to go full-time with art was a leap. A very scary one too. But it all happened organically. I had my first “big girl job” as a graphic designer in Washington D.C. I enjoyed working as a designer but after a few months, I started feeling really bored after work hours. 

I decided to do a challenge in the same vein as the 100 Day Project but tailored to mosaics ( *pst* you cannot make a mosaic in one day *pst*). I would create 30 mosaics in 3 months. I bought $100 worth of stained glass on Etsy, 30 wood panels, some mosaic glue, and set to work. I started posting my project on social media and it took off! It started with someone asking if something was for sale, me coming up with a price, and it kept growing from there.

At the end of the day, the only reason I made the decision to pursue an art career is because people liked the work. My art was connecting with people to the point that people who had never met me in person wanted to support my art practice and collect my work. Still to this day, it is my support team (made up of friends, family, and online connections) that keeps me going.

How do you work and how has your practice changed over time?

Finding the time and space to create your work is a challenge for any artist. I have gone from working in my bedroom, to having an art studio, back to my apartment (the whole apartment this time), back to my room. I’ve had an abundance of time and very little time to create.

The biggest shift was going from balancing a 9-5 office job to full-time art. I had to manage my own time completely. Life as an artist is so dynamic, it is constantly changing but my priority stays the same: make the work! So whenever I find myself in a position where I am unable to make enough artwork, I know that I have to figure it out. Make IT work!

How do you define success as an artist? What do you wish to accomplish?

Honestly, making a living by the things you create with your own two hands is pretty amazing! My goals as an artist are to “spread the word” about the beauty of mosaics, to broaden people’s definition of “art”, and to uplift mosaics to the status of “fine art”.

Dany Green, Saturn, 2022, Stained Glass Mosaic

What does being a Black artist mean to you?

As a black artist, I am living my ancestors’ wildest dreams! I feel honored to have the opportunity to pursue my passion.

How did you learn the skills to create? Did you take art classes or are you self-taught?

After visiting Isaiah Zagar’s Magic Gardens, I created my own mosaic for my high school capstone project. The piece was made entirely of broken bottles and mirrors. From that point onward, I would make a few mosaics throughout the year. It wasn’t until I got my first full-time job as a graphic designer that I decided to get serious about improving my mosaic skills. I am entirely self-taught, gathering information from online forums, talking to other artists, and experimenting!

In your journey as an artist, what has been the most unexpected experience, realization, or challenge?

I had no idea how sacred my art practice would become to me. Through my art practice, I learn how to navigate life. I’ve learned powerful lessons on patience, perseverance, vulnerability, compassion, and much more. When an issue arises in another area of my life, I think of how I would approach it if it were art.

What is your biggest barrier to being an artist? How do you address it?

One of the hardest things about being an artist is being patient with your career. When I first decided to pursue art professionally, I started consuming all the information I could find about the topic. There was this one quote from an artist that went something like “I know you don’t want to hear this but it will take at least 5 years to get there.” I was crushed because deep down I knew it was true!

I am so grateful that I didn’t get what I wanted exactly when I wanted it. I still needed to learn so many important lessons before I made the jump. I needed to get very clear on my style and the purpose of my work. I needed to learn hard skills about pricing, marketing, and shipping. I needed to learn how to handle rejection and failure. And after all those trials and tribulations, I was just barely ready!

Is there anything missing within our Black art communities?

I feel like the Black art community is so rich and beautiful in a way that still is not acknowledged by most of the fine art world. I feel that especially when it comes to abstract Black artists there is a lack of recognition. It is a part of my mission to show up in spaces that weren’t made for me or my art.