115: Grief, Art & Unconditional Love with Jozie Furchgott Sourdiffe

Tao of Po

In this deeply moving episode, Jozie shares her journey as an artist, the profound experience of caretaking her late partner, and the beautiful lessons she learned while supporting him in his transition. We explore her path to artistic success, from developing her career and financial stability through tattooing and a clothing line to the challenges of making a living as a full-time artist. Jozie vulnerably shares her reflections on grief, intimacy, art, and spirituality, and how the loss of her partner profoundly shifted her interaction with the world.

Join us for this powerful conversation on creativity, resilience, and the profound impact of love and loss on an artist's life. Her heartfelt story of honoring her partner during his final moments, through unwavering presence and love, will leave you with tears and full-body chills (it did for me).

We dive into:

• Jozie’s story of creativity and resilience in the face of loss and grief
• Her upbringing in a spiritual household & how her spirituality has evolved
• The depth of intimacy she was able to experience with her partner during his life-altering illness
• Her lessons on creating a life as a full-time artist
• How to support people in their transition and the importance of how you exit the world
• Making art in the hospital with her partner & what her art looks like now
• And more

Jozie Furchgott Sourdiffe is a multidisciplinary artist who channels her creativity through painting, the book arts, tattooing, textiles, and fashion design. Originally from Vermont, she currently lives and works in Miami, Florida.

Since 2011, she has been a licensed and practicing tattoo artist, traveling across the United States to share her unique approach to fine art tattooing. Her reputation as a sought-after tattooer is built on her deep respect for the art form's healing potential. Jozie views tattooing not just as a decorative practice but as a profound medium for healing and transformation, and she continually strives to provide a sacred space for her clients.

Her fine art practice heavily centers around exploring themes of life cycles, grief and loss, gender, and sexuality, climate change, and using art as a vehicle for healing and reflection. Through her paintings and book arts, she invites viewers to engage with these complex and often challenging topics, fostering a connection that is both personal and universal.

Furchgott Sourdiffe also has a clothing line called Feisty Ink Threads that embodies her commitment to sustainability and original design. Each piece in the collection is made from her textile designs, crafted to minimize environmental impact. This dedication to sustainable fashion reflects her broader ethos of creating art that is mindful and responsible.

Connect with Jozie:

Website: www.feistyink.com & www.feistyinkthreads.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/feistyink, https://www.instagram.com/jozie.fs & https://www.instagram.com/feistyinkthreads

Connect with me and let’s go deeper:

Website: https://www.pohongyu.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/pohong.yu/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/pohong.yu/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pohongyu/