Ali Enache
AQ is our series of hardcover catalogs celebrating extraordinary women artists. Available on Amazon. Visit the AQ Catalog Webpage to learn more.
Featured in AQ Volume IV, Ali Enache is an abstract artist from Washington, DC, currently living in Los Angeles. She is known for her minimalist colorfield works in diluted acrylic. Enache’s minimalist abstract work explores the airy and textural qualities of layering diluted acrylics and water on raw canvas. She embraces the volatility of staining techniques and is driven to create perfectly imperfect paintings. Her work radiates subtle, organic elegance through layered acrylic washes in muted tones reminiscent of the natural world.
Through the use of sometimes dozens of layers, the diluted paint and water soak the raw canvas, leaving behind stained forms and rich layered compositions. Often inspired by color harmonies found in nature or design, Enache paints with subdued palettes that evoke contemplation. Her work encourages a sense of deep emotion, offering collectors a window into the intensity and depth she feels when painting.
Enache has been featured in multiple publications including Architectural Digest, Luxe, Elle Decor, Rue Magazine, Vogue Living, Est Living, 25 Beautiful Homes, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, and more.
Ali works in her home studio in Los Angeles.
https://www.alienache.com/
What inspired you to become an artist, and how did you decide to commit to this path?
From an early age, my imagination was vast, often allowing me to notice things that others seemed to overlook. Drawing and painting became my outlets as a child, continuing through my teenage years. I immersed myself in art, attending camps, after-school classes, and eventually taking AP studio art with a local artist during high school. However, as adulthood approached, I shifted toward more practical pursuits, focusing on careers that seemed more likely to provide financial stability after college.
Fast forward 13 years to the Covid-19 pandemic: I had just moved into a new home with blank walls that begged for art. Picking up the paintbrush again, working with heavy body acrylics, I quickly realized I was embarking on a new stage of life. I had recently become a mother, felt disconnected from my design career, and painting reignited a spark in me. In those early moments, I felt an undeniable pull to turn this passion into a full-time career. The joy I found in creating, and the emotional space it provided during such a transformative time, convinced me to make the leap back into art.
I haven’t looked back since, and I’m profoundly grateful for rediscovering what was once my favorite hobby. Committing to this path as an artist has been deeply fulfilling, offering me the ability to stay present and spend my time following my passion.
Could you share the story or concept behind your recent work?
My recent work is all about finding the balance between being true to myself and being a present mother. The work explores themes of vulnerability and self-expression as I wrestle with the tension I feel between authenticity and motherhood. As an extension of my own struggle in reconciling the layers of myself as both a mother and working artist, my work helps me experience a kind of freedom as I expose the dozens of under layers in the color fields.
What was the most challenging part of your path so far? How are you navigating this obstacle?
Time and vulnerability. As a mom, time is scarce. But you have to put the work in to see results. In three years of being a professional artist, I have created over 300 paintings despite limited time. The other challenging piece of my path has been sharing my work. I have always made a point to share my work on social media and via my website, but most of the time it is deeply uncomfortable. One reason artists may have a tough time selling or gaining representation is because of a nervousness to share the work on an ongoing basis and put themselves out there. It’s much harder, if not impossible, for an artist to become successful if they are hiding out in the studio without sharing the work.
What role does experimentation and exploration play in your artistic practice?
I experiment and explore when I create new works. I don’t experiment before I start a work. Sometimes that means I discard a painting and start anew, but most of the time, I take the piece in a direction based on how that exploration went.
Do you have any start or stop rituals before creating?
Not really, but I do like a tidy studio, a very minimal studio setup. When I have too much other work around, too many supplies and other materials, it clutters my mind and I don’t approach each piece with as much energy.
What message do you hope your art conveys to the world?
Through my art, I hope to convey a sense of presence, emotional depth, and connection to the human experience. I want viewers to feel a sense of calm and belonging, but also be invited into the complexity of emotions that we all carry. My work is about creating space for reflection and allowing others to feel seen in their own journeys. I aim to express the beauty found in simplicity and the profound power of subtle, quiet moments. Ultimately, I want my art to offer comfort and a reminder that even in our most vulnerable times, there is beauty, meaning, and a shared sense of humanity.
Share a mantra or favorite quote that keeps you going.
“Inspiration does exist but it must find you working.” — Pablo Picasso
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” — Scott Adams
