Integrating Perspectives through Creativity: A Conversation with NEW Immigrant Artist Consultant Ghislaine Sabati

Interdisciplinary artist and Urban Glass’s Bead Project Director Ghislaine Sabiti joins the NYFA consultant roster providing 1-on-1 career consultations. Here, she shares how her multifaceted experience and cultural background inform her consulting practice.

Born in Congo, raised on the outskirts of Paris, and now based in New York and cultivating her arts practice, Ghislaine Sabiti (IAP ‘20 & Incubator ‘24) shares how embracing the hybridity of one’s experience is an asset, and how her leadership role as an arts administrator at Urban Glass offers strategic insights to her own artistic practice.  

Ghislaine’s 1-on-1 consultation sessions (FREE for immigrant artists) will be available in French and English starting October 1. Check back here for an updated hyperlink. 

New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA): Tell us about how you built your interdisciplinary arts career in the U.S. How did your experience shape and inform your consulting practice?

Ghislaine Sabiti (GS): My journey as an interdisciplinary artist is shaped by my origins in Congo, upbringing in the outskirts of Paris, and current base in New York. Living on three different continents has profoundly influenced my approach to art and consulting. Each of these environments has contributed unique perspectives and experiences that I bring into my creative process and my work with clients, art institutions, or art businesses.

In Congo, art isn’t confined to galleries or exclusive spaces; it’s integrated into daily life, making it accessible and deeply connected to the community. This cultural immersion has likely influenced my belief that art should be an integral part of everyday life, not just something to be admired from a distance. My work likely reflects this philosophy, striving to make art a living, breathing element of people’s daily experiences.

Growing up in a multicultural environment in Paris, I was exposed to a variety of artistic traditions and perspectives, which laid the foundation for my eclectic and experimental approach to art. Moving to New York, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation, further expanded my creative horizons and deepened my commitment to exploring complex narratives, especially those related to identity, displacement, community, and cultural hybridity.

Because of these experiences, I can navigate the nuances of cultural expression and representation. This is particularly valuable when working with BIPOC communities or addressing themes of equity and inclusion. And because my work spans various media and disciplines, I can offer clients a broad range of creative strategies and solutions.

Overall, my personal and professional journey equips me with the tools to offer nuanced, creative, and effective consultation services that resonate with diverse audiences and meet the specific goals of each client.

NYFA: Does your work in arts administration give you new perspectives into your arts career? Has it benefited your process as an artist?

GS: Transitioning from being a practicing artist to an arts administrator and now holding a leadership role as the Director of the Bead Project at Urban Glass has provided me with a multifaceted perspective that deeply enriches my artistic practice.

As an administrator, I’ve gained a broader understanding of how the art world operates beyond the studio. This includes insights into the logistics of running arts programs, the importance of community engagement, and the challenges of sustaining arts organizations. This awareness allows me to approach my work with a more strategic mindset, considering not just the creative process but also how my work fits within larger ecosystems.

Leading a program like the Bead Project at Urban Glass, which empowers women through glassmaking, has deepened my empathy and understanding of the diverse challenges artists face, particularly those from marginalized communities. This perspective informs my own art, driving me to create work that is inclusive, accessible, and reflective of diverse experiences.

Through my leadership role, I’ve learned the value of collaboration, communication, and mentorship. These skills are invaluable in my artistic practice, where collaboration often plays a key role in the creation and presentation of work. Understanding the importance of leading with empathy and fostering supportive environments has also influenced how I engage with other artists and collaborators.

My administrative experience has taught me the importance of sustainability in the arts, and how to balance creativity with the practicalities of funding, audience engagement, and long-term impact. This perspective has led me to approach my projects with a focus on creating work that is not only innovative but also sustainable and impactful over time.

My administrative experience has taught me the importance of sustainability in the arts, and how to balance creativity with the practicalities of funding, audience engagement, and long-term impact.

-Ghislaine Sabati

NYFA: What attracted you to the 1-on-1 Consultations for Immigrant Artists program, and how do you envision supporting this community through your sessions?

GS: Being bilingual in French and English is a significant asset, enabling me to connect with a broader range of communities and navigate the art world in diverse contexts. This linguistic ability allows me to engage with both Francophone and Anglophone audiences, broadening my reach and fostering deeper connections in the art business.

I envision supporting this community by offering personalized guidance that draws on my own experiences. My sessions will focus on helping immigrant artists develop strategies to thrive in the art world while staying true to their cultural roots. This could include: navigating cultural identity, assisting artists in finding ways to express their unique cultural identities within their work, ensuring their voices are both authentic and impactful, and helping artists to build networks within the local art scene. 

I plan to offer practical tips on how to navigate the business side of the art world, including marketing, grant writing, and portfolio development, tailored to the specific challenges immigrant artists might face. Additionally, I want to provide space for artists to discuss the emotional aspects of being an immigrant artist, from dealing with homesickness to overcoming feelings of isolation and finding empowerment in their unique perspectives.

My goal is to empower immigrant artists to not only survive but thrive in their new environments, helping them turn their experiences into powerful, resonant art that speaks to both their heritage and their new surroundings.

NYFA:  What general advice would you give to immigrant artists and creatives out there, that they may not have heard before but that you feel is important?

GS: For immigrant artists and creatives, one piece of advice that may not be commonly heard but is crucial is this: Embrace the tension between your past and present as a source of creative power. Changing strategy and learning is a powerful approach, whether in personal development, business, or the arts.

Often, immigrant artists are encouraged to fully assimilate into their new environments or to solely preserve their cultural heritage. But the real strength lies in navigating the space between these two worlds. This tension between where you come from and where you are now can be a powerful source of inspiration and innovation in your work.

Don’t feel pressured to choose one identity over another. Instead, embrace the hybridity of your experiences. Your art can be a place where different cultural elements blend, creating something entirely new and authentic to you.

Embrace the hybridity of your experiences. Your art can be a place where different cultural elements blend, creating something entirely new and authentic to you.

-Ghislaine Sabati

You’ve developed through the immigrant experience adapting to new cultures, and overcoming challenges can also fuel your creativity. Let that resilience drive you to take risks, experiment, and push boundaries in your work.

Business strategy is another key to success. Listening to customer feedback, mentoring advisors, and peers, tracking market shifts, and staying attuned to competitors can shape more agile strategies. Learning from mistakes and successes helps businesses innovate, stay relevant, and build stronger relationships with clients and partners.

Ultimately, your journey as an immigrant artist is a rich tapestry of experiences that can greatly enrich your art. By embracing the complexities and contradictions of your identity, you can create work that is not only deeply personal but also universally resonant. The ability to change strategy based on new information or insight is not a sign of weakness but a mark of wisdom. It shows the capacity to remain dynamic, open-minded, and relevant in an ever-changing world.

About Ghislaine Sabiti 
Ghislaine Sabiti is a French/American Congolese-born multidisciplinary artist, painter, glass artist, ceramist sculptor, costume designer, educator, and Bead Project Director at Urban Glass. She grew up on the outskirts of Paris, France, and is now based in New York, NY.

Sabiti studied fine arts at Atelier Chantier du Coq and L’académie de la Grande Chaumière and graduated with honors in fashion design from Atelier Chardon Savard in Paris, France. She further developed her skills by studying glass lamp-work, glass blowing, and photo decals at Urban Glass and ceramics at the ceramic Artshack. She has taught and created a curriculum at several premier institutions, including the Harlem School of Arts, the Peter Valley, Urban Glass, Zimmerli Art Museum, French Institute, Brooklyn College, and Glass Rots.

Sabiti’s work highlights the technical form used in both African and European arts, focusing on form and color. She specializes in creating unique sculptural pieces that blend various techniques such as weaving, braiding, oil painting, ceramic sculpture, and glass sculpture.

She has completed several prestigious fellowships including the The NYFA Incubator for Executive Leaders of Color, Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute’s Innovative Cultural Advocacy Fellowship, DEAR (Digital Evolution/Artist Retention) Fellowship, and New York Foundation of the Arts’ Immigrant Artist Program. She has also been a resident artist at Columbia Clay, Peter Valley School of Craft, ArtYard with CoLabart, Pilchuck Better Together, Urban Glass, Glass Roots, Calabar Gallery and coLABArts, Jamaica Center, and Jamaica Center for Art and Learning. Chashama has nominated Sabiti for an artist residency at the Marcel Breuer House at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund’s The Pocantico Center and Commission for the Lexington Hotel, New York, Salon du Prêt-à-Porter. Additionally, Sabiti was an award winner for the Dupont De Nemours hosiery design competition for DIM Company.

Her work has been exhibited and commissioned nationally and internationally in France and the U.S. at numerous group exhibitions and solo shows including Calabar Gallery, Hamptons Art Fair, Zimmerli Art Museum, El Teatro del Museo Del Barrio with Boys and Girls Harbor, Galabar Gallery, Artshack, Occupy Museum Debt Fair at the Whitney Biennial, MNN El Barrio Firehouse Community Media Center, Atelier Rosal, Westfield State University Arno Maris Gallery, Rio Gallery, Harlem School of the Arts, Brooklyn Film and Art Festival, Small Space Fest, and Poe Park Visitor Center.

–Ya Yun Teng, Program Officer, Immigrant Artist Program

This post is part of the ConEdison Immigrant Artist Program Newsletter #173. Subscribe to this free monthly e-mail for artist’s features, opportunities, and events. Learn more about NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program.