Today we’d like to introduce you to Tori Grin.
Hi Tori, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in Odessa, Ukraine, where I began studying art at a young age and later graduated from the Grekov Odessa State Art College. Creativity has always been part of my life, although my path to becoming a full-time artist was anything but traditional.
After college, I briefly worked as an interior designer, creating projects for private clients. When I moved to the United States, I had to start over. At the time, I had little experience with computers, so I began working in sign companies as a vinyl installer, applying graphics to vehicles and installing signs.
Determined to grow professionally, I later earned a Graphic Design degree in Pennsylvania. Over the next twenty years, I built a creative career that combined both design and hands-on production. I worked as a graphic designer while continuing to install graphics, create vehicle wraps, design signs, channel letters, catalogs, branding materials, and large-format advertising displays.
Although design became my profession, painting remained my true passion. Eventually, I made the decision to leave my long-term design career and dedicate myself fully to art.
Today, I create highly textured mixed media artworks under the name Tori Grin. My work combines abstract geometry, sculptural texture, and architectural forms inspired by human connection, trust, memory, and resilience. I am particularly drawn to creating statement pieces that become a focal point within a space, bringing both visual impact and emotional depth to contemporary interiors.
I am also a mother of four children, and my family has been one of my greatest sources of inspiration and support. Our home is shared with a Scottish Fold cat and a dog who often keep me company in the studio.
My work has been exhibited internationally, including in Paris, and collected throughout the United States and Europe. In 2026, several of my works were sold at the Affordable Art Fair in Austin, Texas, marking an important milestone in my artistic journey.
Today, I create original artworks and commissions from my studio in Richboro, Pennsylvania, for collectors, designers, and curated interiors around the world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not always been smooth.
One of the biggest challenges was allowing myself to move from a stable, long-term career in graphic design into the uncertainty of becoming a full-time artist. It takes courage to start again, especially later in life, and to believe that your creative voice deserves space.
I also had to learn the business side of the art world — exhibitions, galleries, collectors, shipping, pricing, and promotion. Creating the artwork is only one part of being an artist. Building a career around it requires patience, discipline, and resilience.
But every challenge helped me grow. It taught me to trust the process, stay consistent, and keep moving forward even when the next step was not completely clear
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What makes my work unique is the balance between emotional storytelling and contemporary design. While my paintings are deeply personal, they are also created to become statement pieces within a space — works that bring both visual impact and emotional depth to modern interiors.
I draw inspiration from my background in graphic design, interior design, and large-format visual production. These experiences taught me to think about composition, scale, balance, and how artwork interacts with architecture and the people who live around it.
I am most proud of creating a body of work that feels both modern and meaningful. My goal is not simply to decorate a wall, but to create pieces that people connect with on an emotional level and want to live with for many years.
One of the most rewarding moments in my career has been seeing my work collected internationally and knowing that pieces created in my Pennsylvania studio have found homes throughout the United States and Europe
What was your favorite childhood memory?
When I think about my childhood, I think of the Black Sea, endless sunshine, and the freedom to spend hours outdoors. Like many artists, I loved drawing from an early age, but what surprises me now is how familiar some of those childhood sketches feel.
During school lessons, while everyone else was taking notes, I was often filling the margins of my notebooks with small drawings. They were simple combinations of circles, lines, geometric shapes, and abstract compositions. At the time, they were just doodles. Looking back, I realize many of the same elements still appear in my artwork today.
It feels as though my artistic language was already there long before I understood what it would become. Those little sketches in the corners of my notebooks eventually grew into the large textured abstract paintings I create today.
Looking back, that may be one of my favorite childhood memories—not just drawing, but discovering that the things we are naturally drawn to as children often stay with us for a lifetime
Pricing:
- Original artworks: $500–$4,000+
- Custom commissions available
- Custom sizes and color palettes available
- Complimentary wall visualization before purchase
- Worldwide shipping available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://torigrin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torigrin_art?igsh=M3I2dnBjYzFjbWdx&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61589471708551
- Other: https://www.saatchiart.com/account/profile/2785491?q=1773945100
