We tend to romanticise art, viewing the process of creation as intimate, and love as a key inspiration. But is it really so? Or just a nice thought that we want to believe? Like believing rom-coms reflect reality although the rational part of us says it does not.
This article will be my conversation with digital artists, as I try to understand what part love plays in their creative process. As well as, I’ll also share some popular love couples of the art world.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude
Christo and Jeanne-Claude were truly a power couple. Imagine the vision and collaboration required to wrap the Reichstag in white fabric, transform L’Arc de Triomphe, surround islands, or drape fabric across Colorado's valleys.
Born on the same day in the same year, Christo was Bulgarian, and Jeanne-Claude was French. Their story began when Christo was commissioned to paint a portrait of Jeanne-Claude’s mother. They fell in love and soon started working together on some of the most ambitious art installations in history.
Their projects required staggering amounts of funding—the L'Arc de Triomphe installation alone cost around US$16.5 million.Yet, the couple lived a modest life, refusing sponsorships, patrons' money, or any financial aid. They believed in complete artistic independence, financing their work solely through the sale of Christo’s preparatory drawings and artworks.
“They loved each other to the end of the world. And that’s the first thing that made their collaboration work. They actually adored each other and would go to the ends of the world for one another. Very few people have a connection like that. When they worked together, this love was essential,” said Vladimir Yavachev, who now runs their foundation, in an interview with GOAT Greatest.
Ana María Caballero on motherhood, language, and love
Ana María is an award-winning, acclaimed artist, writer. She’s the first living poet to sell a poem in the history of Sotheby’s, and the only artist ever to receive a triple finalist nomination for the Lumen Prize. She was a guest speaker on one of my webinars available:
Olena Y. – Your work often explores the complexities of personal experience and relationships. How do love and intimacy shape the way you navigate these themes in your art and writing?
Ana María C. – My work is about personal experience and how we navigate it—giving voice to the things we swallow and silence. Longterm, committed love, in particular, is a constant negotiation, a balance between giving and not giving too much. It’s woven into our daily interactions with those closest to us. Over time, love becomes not just a feeling but an ongoing practice, a challenge of maintaining depth, commitment, and care. That’s really what a lot of my work is about.
Olena Y. – Can love serve as a source of inspiration? If so, in what ways?
Ana María C. – I’m deeply motivated to reflect on my own experiences because, in doing so, we encourage others to value theirs. There’s a real risk in believing that our thoughts and emotions aren’t valid or important. This can lead to harmful dynamics, even escalating into abuse or violence. That’s why it’s crucial to pay attention to what happens in our intimate, day-to-day lives. We all navigate these realities—within them, we find love and caregiving, but we must also recognize the weight of these responsibilities.
Olena Y. – I’ve heard you say, “My projects start with a love for language.” Could you elaborate on what this means to you?
Ana María C. – For me, writing begins with a love for the written word—its rhythm, its nuances, and the ways it can be expressed and honored. I’m deeply motivated by writing itself, but I’m also fascinated by the evolving ways we use language. For example, my “Being Borges” series explores how we interact with language and AI, a subject we haven't fully examined yet.
The Kiss by Gustav Klimt
As I sit in an apartment in Vienna, writing about what many call the most romantic artwork in the world, I wonder—why? A kiss is a common subject in art. So what makes The Kiss so iconic that hundreds of couples visit the Belvedere Museum on Valentine’s Day just to see it?
The answer lies in how Klimt transforms a simple moment into something extraordinary:
Gold: The kissers are surrounded by shimmering gold, highlighting the rarity and value of tender moments. It makes the scene feel sacred.
Mutuality: The woman leans slightly backward, but her face radiates serenity and consent. It’s perfectly balanced. Trust me, not that popular back then, normally male figures would have been dominant.
Dream: While it’s an intimate moment between two people, it resonates universally. The idealized kiss, the kind many dream of.
Klimt shared a close, lifelong relationship with Emilie Flöge, a fashion designer and frequent muse. But it’s unclear what inspired his vision of love in this painting. For all we know, you don’t need a loud love story to understand or depict love. Klimt didn’t have the loud one.
Zhannet Podobed & Love during War
I had a call with Ukrainian artist Zhannet to discuss her Sunset Kombucha series, created in Odesa (a city in southern Ukraine by the Black Sea) at the onset of the full-scale war. The series features six central figures: Love, Faith, Harmony, Care, Vigour, and Radiance. (View the series here.)
Zhannet P. – This series is about finding new meaning during wartime. War isn’t just destruction; it also reveals values more powerful than war itself. Love is one of them. No matter what surrounds you, if you carry these qualities within, you shape the world around you.
Olena Y. – How did you manage to focus on the positive, even while living in a city under constant bombardment?
Zhannet P. – At first, I couldn’t. But over time, I searched for new meaning and personal fulfillment. I looked for the things I could change—my mood, my perspective. I started focusing on what truly brings me joy.
Zhannet’s vision, resilience, and ability to find beauty amid chaos are not just inspiring within the art world but in life itself.
