BY SUZY STUMP for WEEKLY VOLCANO 8/1/25 |
A vibrant figure in the South Sound art scene, Tami Figliola has become a beloved staple at Proctor Arts Fest, where she returns this weekend to Booth #125 with more than fifty new works.
“I’ve been doing Proctor for over ten years,” she said. “It’s the only show I do in Washington because I love it so much. Great people, great food, and great-great art!”
Though her signature aesthetic leans into joyful color and whimsical forms, Figliola’s creative journey began with steel and sawdust. After earning her BFA at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, she immersed herself in architectural design, woodworking, and welding. Painting—now her medium of choice—wasn’t the focus then.
“I only had one painting class,” she explained. “But I was naturally drawn to painting after college as a way to express myself.”
Raised in Grapevine, Texas, in a lineage of artistic women, Figliola’s creative roots run deep. “My great-grandmother and grandmother were both artists,” she shared. “And my mom was a talented seamstress.” After moving back to Texas post-graduation, she opened an art boutique and started calling herself an artist in earnest. “I was producing art on canvas and selling it. That’s when it clicked.”
Inspired early on by Gustav Klimt, she adopted his decorative abstraction before finding her own visual language: bright, bold acrylics rich with texture and joy. “I usually have five canvases going at once,” she said. “I dive in and see what happens—always influenced by the beauty in nature around us.”
Figliola doesn’t teach in the traditional sense, but she’s no stranger to community engagement. For years, she hosted art parties in her basement studio and now brings private paint events to homes and offices. “We meet, come up with a theme, and I supply everything,” she explained. “I’m not a formal teacher, but I love guiding people to create.”
The Gig Harbor and Tacoma art communities have warmly embraced her, with collectors returning year after year for commissions and one-of-a-kind pieces. “I started donating to Canterwood Auctions and now participate in a few a year,” she said. “I’ve developed a following—many Gig Harborites have my work in their homes.”
When asked if her work is a form of healing, she didn’t hesitate. “Creating bright, colorful themed art makes me feel joyful for sure,” she said. “I love seeing my art bring life to a room.”
That sense of joy is intentional. “It’s generally happy art,” she said. “Sometimes it’s funny—a cute dog in glasses—or just bold, colorful flowers. I want people to smile.”
Her influences continue to expand. “I’d love to collaborate with Frida Kahlo,” she mused. “She was a strong, rebel-like woman with a great talent for color.” As she looks ahead, travel tops her priority list—not only for inspiration but also for festival opportunities. “I’m currently applying to winter art festivals in Arizona.”
Until then, you’ll find her right here in Tacoma, welcoming passersby with a grin, a palette of sunshine, and perhaps a quirky pup or two.
Find Tami Figliola at Booth #125 at Proctor Arts Fest this weekend. For inquiries or private paint events, follow her on Instagram @artsyfig. Read more about Proctor Arts Fest on page 7 of this newspaper.
