April Surac
Where do you live: Florida, United States of America
Describe your art in three words: Immersive, textural, narrative
Your discipline: Photography, filmmaking, woodworking, textile arts
Website | Instagram
Your work integrates a combination of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology. How do you approach this balance when creating your pieces?
I approach the balance between traditional craftsmanship and modern technology by letting the material guide the process. Growing up around my family’s furniture shop, I learned how hands-on techniques can shape both form and meaning. Now, I combine that with modern tools—like embedding conductive threads into textiles or using sensory-responsive materials—to create pieces that aren’t just seen but experienced. It’s less about replacing tradition and more about expanding what it can do.
Can you tell us more about the NeuraSensa project and how it merges art with neurotechnology to support neurodiverse individuals?
I started NeuraSensa to explore how multisensory art can support cognitive health, especially for neurodiverse individuals, who often experience sensory environments as either overwhelming or under-stimulating. I’m currently working on a monograph set for publication this summer, focusing on how engaging sight, touch, and sound can ground focus, ease anxiety, and support memory retention. Alongside this, I’m developing a patent-pending product designed for dementia patients, using controlled sensory stimulation to promote cognitive engagement. Collaborating with neuroscientists and artists has been key, not just for refining my work but for opening up conversations on how art and health can go hand-in-hand.
Your photography often highlights themes of identity and community. What do these themes mean to you personally, and how do you explore them through your work?
I believe it’s the art of being human and what we create for ourselves—the lives we build, the stories we carry. I love the realness of it, whether it’s felt through our senses, shaped by where we come from, or driven by what we care about. That’s what drives my work: showing how incredible we already are, without sugarcoating it, and hoping it reminds us to see that in each other more often.
What inspired you to create Surac Studios, and how does the studio reflect your artistic values and vision?
I started Surac Studios to build something lasting under my family name. It began with the idea of creating a brand for my family’s furniture shop, but it’s grown into a space for exploring how art and technology can intersect. The studio reflects how I approach my own projects—always experimenting, refining, and pushing ideas until they work. Whether it’s interactive installations, sensory-based designs, or mixed-media pieces, each project builds toward a larger vision: creating work that doesn’t just sit in a gallery but actively shapes how people experience the world.
April Suracut | Ñawpaq pacha | 2024As an award-winning interdisciplinary artist, how do you continue to challenge yourself creatively in your ongoing projects?
I challenge myself by staying engaged with art every single day. As a student balancing STEM and creative work, it’s not always easy to make time, but I’ve learned that creativity isn’t something that just happens—it’s something you have to feed. That means going to galleries, watching films, reading stories, and most importantly, ideating every day. I write down every idea, no matter how incomplete or impractical, because the goal isn’t perfection—it’s momentum. The more I create, the more I understand what works and what doesn’t. It’s really a numbers game: if I generate enough ideas and follow through on them, something is bound to click. That process of constant experimentation keeps my work evolving and keeps me excited about what’s next.
How do you decide on the materials and mediums you use for a particular project, and what drives your creative decisions?
Being showcased recently at CityArts in Orlando has been fantastic. They’ve supported my work before when I was a younger artist, so having my pieces displayed there again felt like coming full circle. What really stands out about CityArts is how they create interactive art spaces, encouraging people to engage with the work in more creative ways. It’s not just about looking at art but experiencing it, which makes showing my photography there even more meaningful.
Your work has been showcased in various exhibitions. What has been the most impactful exhibition for you and why?
The materials and mediums I choose depend on how I want the viewer to experience the work. Photography is often my starting point because it captures a moment as it is, but I like to push that further—sometimes through digital layering, fabric prints, or mixed-media installations. The choice usually comes from the story I’m trying to tell. If a project explores memory, I might use textures that feel aged or fragmented. If it’s about connection, I lean toward interactive elements that invite people to engage, not just observe. My creative decisions are driven by that balance between what I see and how I want others to feel when they see it too.
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