Meet Ciara Kleva

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ciara Kleva.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Hi! I’m a visual artist living in sunny Tempe with my smokeshow Husband and our two pups. We run a business together, Kleva Built, and are enjoying newly married life (two years is still new, right?)

I take photos, and I paint. My expression through art started as a child but was put on the shelf for most of my teens and twenties. I pulled out my paint and brushes after a therapy session a while ago and never put them back. Since then, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to share my work locally and across the country. I never set out to make this my main hat I wear, but God had other plans.

A Phoenix native, I was born to a Vietnamese mother who immigrated to the US in the 70s, and an American father born in Delaware, Ohio. As a child I was fascinated with people: meeting them, talking with them, knowing more about them. I would keep a tally in my head of how many new people I talked to that day (this actually is a habit that stays with me to this day). I would be remiss if I did not include that I became a black belt in hard form kung fu at 10, classically trained pianist by 15, a leader in multiple groups and organizations throughout high school, Bible Study leader at 16, cheer captain at 17, and West Point candidate by 18, a reality tv reel filmed and pitched at 22, and a pretty little picture of a life from the outside looking in.

All of these “achievements” did not keep me from the culmination of the emotional and physical hardship growing up overspilling & taking its form in my 20s. Without going into details here, I can say that I had to wander quite a few dark valleys before I was pulled up to see the light of day. It is through these challenges (to put it lightly) that I was able to TRULY know God and His grace and healing. I am still in this process now, and I understand this will last until the end, so I’m in no rush.

It is also through these challenges that I grew into the Ciara that is writing this today: confident in vulnerability, healed and still healing, and able to connect with other women (and men) all over the world through my blog & social media. Thanks, internet. While I enjoy writing a caption and pairing it with a photo, painting has been the avenue I use to share things I’m not ready to speak (or choose not to).

There was a time about three years ago (2013) when all my social media accounts started growing at a rate I couldn’t believe. I started seeing over 1K new followers a day on my Facebook fan page, started selling more posters, created a “sexy” website that had over 39K subscribers. I was able to leave my full-time job and work only from home. After about a year, however, I gained over 300K Instagram followers that cared primarily about my body. That was about it. I had a bunch of people that “supported” me, but only if it was of sexier pics that floated their boat. This left me realizing, after I reached the peak of that “fame,” that I was almost as lonely as when I set out in 2010.

Over the past three years, my Husband and I have been actively pushing against the “empire” that was built purely around my sex appeal as that was never my intention. We have been actively fighting to remove images from the internet that we’re continuing to be published and shared out of my “control” and continue to keep our minds focused on the present and not on the past.

I’ve been a pretty easy target for quite some time. I believe it comes with the territory (having a more public social media presence), but lately, God has redeemed all these things that were once an overall cause of harm and pain in my life and has brought my website & all of my social media into a pretty clear example of the way God wants to redeem ALL things. I am not what people label me/have labeled me: I am not a fitness model; I am not a porn star; I am not even a role model. I am a Believer. A Precious Child of God. That is my identity. And that’s great.

Please tell us about your art.
I take photos, and I paint.

I use my art to tell my story, and the stories of others, which allows us freedom and accuracy more than we can find with words. In my process, I aim to balance the chaos with intent, whether it’s telling a story or showing a landscape, I like to rest in what I’m shown and challenge myself to paint what is implied, letting my sensory interpretations bridge the gap. As someone who values authenticity, I like to let my responsiveness (joy, anger, pain, delight) show through.

When people see my work, I hope the take away is something similar to my process:
Step one: Rest in it
Step two: Sensory processing
Step three: Response

If they walk away feeling ANYTHING AT ALL, then I’m happy.

It’s with photos and paint that I feel able to harmonize with the work of the Creator and I feel so blessed to be able to share it with my community and anyone who would like to look.

Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
The world is crazy, but the world is also incredible. Because of how things are, someone can write a song in their bedroom, and within a week it can be heard by millions. Artist used to have to grind HARD just to find a place willing to display their artwork, and most places only paid any attention if you had the money to go to get a degree. While I do see a lot of people detached from reality and unable to be fully present due to their smartphones, I have to give some credit to the ways that it has helped artist (like me) go from painting in their backyard and getting bird poop in their hair to getting commissions and spots on people’s walls.

While I will very rarely directly translate any local/national/international events directly on the canvas, I do allow my response and feelings towards what is happening at the moment process it’s way through my body and out onto the canvas.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
People can see my artwork at my home. Come on over!

Also, if that weird and you want our friendship to develop organically, you can check out my stuff here: CIARAKLEVA.COM.

IG | @hesedvisualarts

I also have pieces up in places around the valley: CorePower Tempe, Rowan Tree, Jasmine Jo, Redemption Church Tempe, and people’s homes and offices that you are not allowed to visit but can check out on my website!

I share all upcoming exhibitions, classes, and showings on my website and artist Instagram.

I would love any support that you feel willing and able to give. This can be done by “liking” artwork on social media, sharing, and of course, acquiring a piece that you connect with, or sharing with those around you who are looking to acquire artwork.

Contact Info:

• Website: CIARAKLEVA.COM
• Email: ciarale@ciarale.com
• Instagram: personal: @ciarakleva | business: @hesedvisualarts
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hesedvisualarts

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.