Sammy Unsolicited

In this episode of Sammy Unsolicited, Sammy sits down with Los Angeles-based artist, chef, and longtime friend Anahid Boghosian for her very first podcast appearance. The two dive deep into Anahid’s creative journey — from growing up surrounded by her sculptor father’s world in the 70s and 80s, to studying fashion design, discovering fine art in her late 20s, and making a defining life pivot in 2010 following a separation that led her to pursue painting full time.Anahid opens up about her love of working on unconventional materials like reclaimed wood, pallets, and hand-cut magazine paper collages born during Covid lockdown — some containing over 2,000 individually cut pieces. She shares the story behind her signature large-eyed faces, a deeply personal shoe installation at the Brand Library honoring her father who was an amputee since age nine, and what it truly means to build a life around your art without compromise.A deeply personal, honest, and inspiring conversation about creativity, resilience, identity, and what it takes to bet on yourself.5. Chapter Timestamps    •    0:00 — Welcome & guest introduction    •    0:33 — Fun openers: walking song (Tainted Love), Sade & the cortado order    •    1:46 — Growing up surrounded by art: sculptor father, musicians & the creative household    •    3:22 — Early encouragement: art teachers and first creative memories    •    3:37 — Fashion school in 80s LA: Keith Haring, street art & the downtown scene    •    7:14 — Post-college career: pattern design, fashion industry disillusionment & quitting    •    9:10 — Interning with fine artists, furniture design & finding a new creative direction    •    9:19 — Moving to Boston, pregnancy & painting as the one thing that made her happy    •    10:16 — Hobby vs. life pursuit: the moment everything shifted    •    12:35 — 2010: divorce, selling the house & committing to art full time    •    14:05 — Being a Taurus: stubbornness, determination & detaching from ego    •    18:54 — How imperfection shows up in her work: reclaimed materials & finding beauty in the broken    •    21:39 — Scoliosis at 13, wearing a brace & the philosophy of imperfection    •    22:39 — When did the unconventional material work start? All the way back to fourth grade    •    24:14 — No favorite between canvas and reclaimed material — heart goes into both    •    24:44 — The Covid magazine collage collection: 2,000+ hand-cut pieces on wood panels    •    28:18 — Magazines dating back to the early 80s gifted by designer friends    •    28:39 — The signature Anahid face: origin story and the book page doodle project    •    30:24 — “Broadway” — Sammy reveals the gifted artwork & the Glendale street series    •    33:36 — The shoe installation at Brand Library: honoring her amputee father    •    36:39 — Assembling 200+ painted shoes & what it felt like when it came together    •    38:12 — Her father’s sculptures, legacy & wanting to cast bronze versions for her sisters    •    39:14 — Trusting the process: why things tend to fall into place organicallyShow Notes & Resources    •    Bergamot Station Art Center — Santa Monica, CA — site of Anahid’s upcoming residency starting April 2025: bergamotstation.com    •    Brand Library & Art Center — Glendale, CA — site of SAMMYInstagram: @sammyunsolicitedTikTok: @sammyunsolicitedX: @sammyunsolicitedOMNITHEREAL PRODUCTIONSRecorded and Produced by: George PurtseladzeInstagram: @omnitherealproductions

Rita Parsamyan Mahood bought a business while her husband was at work and her baby was in a stroller. Nine years later, Lazer Lounge is one of LA’s most sought-after aesthetic practices.We get into the leap, the second leap nobody talks about, and the one word she says explains every success she’s ever had.Episode 1. Rita goes first.SAMMYInstagram: @sammyunsolicitedTikTok: @sammyunsolicitedX: @sammyunsolicitedOMNITHEREAL PRODUCTIONSRecorded and Produced by: George PurtseladzeInstagram: @omnitherealproductions