Pascal’s extensive travels further shaped her creative outlook. Having lived in London, Croatia, Uruguay, Germany, and South Africa, she experienced a range of cultural influences that enriched her artistic language. This international exposure is woven into her work, where themes of movement, identity, and belonging frequently emerge.
Building Community Through Art: The LOOK Gallery
In Los Angeles, Pascal’s passion for visual storytelling found another outlet with the founding of the LOOK Gallery. The gallery became a platform for artists to explore large-scale works while fostering collaboration between established and emerging creatives.
LOOK Gallery’s events, including lectures, exhibitions, and community projects, reflected Pascal’s belief that art should engage and inspire. By inviting industry professionals, educators, and cultural leaders to participate, she created a space that encouraged dialogue and innovation. Pascal’s thoughtful curation ensured the gallery remained dynamic — a place where diverse ideas could converge.
A defining feature of LOOK Gallery was its support for new talent. Pascal frequently dedicated exhibitions to emerging artists, providing them with a platform to develop their creative identity. By balancing established voices with rising talent, Pascal cultivated an inclusive space where ideas could evolve organically.
Writing a New Narrative
In addition to her work in visual arts, Pascal turned to literature as a means of exploring complex narratives. Writing under the pseudonym Arabella Pascal, her novel Zanzibar reflects her commitment to blending historical research with engaging storytelling.
Zanzibar emerged from Pascal’s study of odalisques in Victorian England. While exploring the symbolism behind these artistic portrayals, Pascal’s research repeatedly led her to the island of Zanzibar. This historical link became the foundation for her novel, which explores themes of personal strength, cultural displacement, and self-discovery.
Rather than following traditional romantic conventions, Zanzibar follows a deeper narrative structure — one that aligns with the classical definition of romance as a quest. The story unfolds as a journey of inner growth, resilience, and bravery. Pascal’s characters confront societal pressures, grapple with identity, and ultimately embark on a path of self-realization.
Her ability to balance historical accuracy with emotional depth is key to the novel’s success. Drawing from her background in costume design and visual arts, Pascal meticulously reconstructed her characters’ environments with rich detail. This focus on authenticity allows her to immerse readers in a world that feels both historically grounded and emotionally resonant.
Pascal has described her writing process as akin to solving a puzzle — connecting characters, settings, and emotions to form a cohesive whole. Her thoughtful approach ensures her storytelling offers more than surface-level drama; instead, her narratives explore themes of courage, personal transformation, and resilience in the face of adversity.
The Influence of Travel and Cultural Exploration
Pascal’s time abroad significantly shaped her perspective as both an artist and writer. Her experiences in diverse cultural settings informed her understanding of visual language, human relationships, and social dynamics.
This global influence is apparent not only in her paintings but also in her fiction. Themes of displacement, identity, and self-reflection frequently emerge, creating narratives that resonate with readers from various backgrounds. By blending historical accuracy with emotional depth, Pascal’s work invites readers to reflect on their own experiences and values.
Pascal’s travels also influenced her approach to creative collaboration. While leading LOOK Gallery, she frequently brought together artists from different disciplines, encouraging them to engage with ideas that transcended conventional artistic boundaries. Her belief in creative dialogue fostered projects that explored themes of cultural identity, storytelling, and shared experience.
A Career Defined by Creative Purpose
In addition to her visual and literary work, Pascal served as publisher of FORM: Pioneering Design, where she shaped conversations on architecture, design, and cultural trends. Her ability to present complex ideas in an accessible way helped her reach audiences across creative disciplines.
Beyond her public roles, Pascal has consistently supported emerging talent through mentorship. By encouraging young creatives to embrace their unique perspectives, she has played a vital role in nurturing fresh voices within the artistic community. Her mentorship emphasizes authenticity, urging artists and writers to draw from their personal experiences to create meaningful work.
A Lasting Creative Legacy
Arabella Pascal’s career reflects a commitment to creative exploration and cultural engagement. Whether through painting, writing, or curating, she has continually found ways to connect art with human experience. Her ability to translate complex themes into accessible narratives has made her work both thought-provoking and relatable.
By blending artistic craft with emotional depth, Pascal has created a legacy that encourages reflection, dialogue, and self-expression. Her journey — from costume designer to painter, gallerist, and novelist — demonstrates that creativity thrives when grounded in curiosity and purpose.
Through her work, Pascal invites her audience to explore their own stories — to embrace the complexity of identity, the power of reinvention, and the enduring value of art as a means of connection.
