Meet Christian Lubarsky-Ford | Artist & Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christian Lubarsky-Ford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christian, the decisions we make often shape our story in profound ways. What was one of the most difficult decisions you’ve had to make?
One of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my art career so far is deciding between a fulltime position and a residency. I had just graduated with my BFA and I knew I wanted to go into teaching high school art while slowly building my art career on the side. I had applied to some programs and residencies and was waiting to hear back from them. I immediately hear back from a high school to finish the school year. I was excited to get this position and accepted immediately. However a couple days after I had accepted I heard back from a residency I applied to. I knew I could not turn the residency down, but the dates conflicted too much with each other for me to choose both. I spoke to my mentors for advise and decided I had to take the residency, hoping the school would work with me. Unfortunately, the conflicting dates were too much and they told me I had to make a decision. I chose the residency, and voiced how much I would love to work with them in the future and I could not pass this opportunity up.
This was a very hard decision and at the time I was hesitant to feel I had made the right decision. But now I can feel like I had made the best decision. The residency made me so much stronger as an artist, I connected with so many people and pushed my art in a direction I would not have if I hadn’t gone. I was later offered the same position at the high school for the next school year. I credit that decision for making me realize I could be an artist and a teacher. That I am more that what I often give myself credit for, I think sometimes it is hard to feel like you are going the right way until after you have already went through.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Being an artist is not easy, you may grow up hearing criticism about wanting to be an artist, then you grow up and take criticism about your art. Being an artist you have you know who you are, you have to be strong and dedicated, just like in any other career. I have to say I didn’t always think I could be where I am today, I didn’t think I could make it as an artist or that I had anything worth buying. I knew I was good, but so are thousands of others. Somewhere after covid, coming out of a depression, I changed a bit. I painted a raw vulnerability of myself that I hadn’t seen before. I had gained small recognition, exhibitions, and awards. It takes time for things to fall into place, there are so many no’s and so many days of feeling like you made a mistake. I am not near being a fulltime artist… Yet. The contemporary art world is full of artists like me, but I offer the viewer to feel my pain, my love, my awe with me. I allow the viewer to enter my worlds. This type of vulnerability I do not often see. Even as I begin my new series, I ask the view to see my mountainscapes as portraits. As a portrait painter, I paint people, capturing not only their likability, but the warmth of being human. I have started reflecting the same in my portraits of landscapes. Although this is a new series, and work I am currently working on. I am excited, as these paintings are proving to be a turning point in my career.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Arizona is so large and full of places I hold special moments. One of the first places we would go is the Phoenix Art Museum. this museum is one of my favorite I have every visited around the country. the architecture and work are so beautifully curated, this place feels very magical to me. We would go out for brunch at my fiancé and I’s favorite breakfast place, Biscuit Cafe in Glendale. We really love this place, since the first time going we felt so at home whenever we had gone.
A walk around Tempe town lake or at the desert botanical gardens (depending how hot it is!), then dinner at a quaint seafood restaurant I found in Tempe, Casey Moore’s Oyster House. Now we would of course hang out downtown, maybe go to some bars, but depending on how long the stay is, I would really want us to visit Flagstaff. I love Flagstaff for many reasons, but I always love going to the arboretum to walk the tree shaded trails and view the night sky at Lowell’s Observatory. one place that is absolutely life changing, that I want to take everyone to is the indigenous monuments at Wupatki national monument. Probably the most beautiful place i have ever seen in all of Arizona.

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?
Whenever I am asked this question I always have to credit my parents, Monica and Daniel Lubarsky-Ford. I feel so lucky to have a support system who loves me and pushes me to do exactly what I want to do. Despite meeting people who think being an artist or even being a teacher are careers that offer so little stability, I know who I am and I know I am doing what I meant to do. I am an artist, I am a teacher, and I could not be who I am without my parents. They were both there for me during my darkest moments, it is more than “they are your parents, of course they are there for you”, they make me feel proud of myself.
I also have my grandparents and my fiancé to thank for being my cheer leaders and being just as supportive of my dreams. they all may not always understand my art or even what I do while teaching, but they always try to make it their mission to make me feel like I am amazing, talented, and loved. I am so privileged to have my family, I know not everyone has the support system I have and so I take moments like now to share how amazing they are,

Instagram: christian_lubarskyford

Image Credits
Nicole Namingha