Welcome to our ongoing series: “In Harmony with…” in which we invite people who inspire us to share their stories.
This month, we chatted with D’Ara Nazaryan, a multidisciplinary artist and floral sculptress who divides her time between Los Angeles and New York City. We met her adorable dog, Capri, walked around her neighborhood while she foraged for flowers, and learned how she likes to unwind at the end of the day.
Describe the journey that brought you to where you are.
Florals entered my life at a moment when I felt completely depleted. After years of working in illustration and design, I had burned out creatively and needed a new way to reconnect—with the earth, and with myself. That’s how Aris Floral came to be. Working with flowers allowed me to create without expectation, to return to the simple joy of making. For the first time in a long time, I felt grounded and fully present in the act of creation.
Your floral studio is named “Aris.” Where does that name come from?
Aris carries my grandfather’s name, and in many ways, it’s how I make sense of the world. It’s about love, loss, and legacy—a deeply personal expression of all the things that shape me. I see it less as a floral studio and more as a vessel for my creative energy, a space where everything I feel and imagine can take form.
What’s your favorite/biggest floral install to-date?
One of my favorite installs was for a piano we created for the Harlem Finale Party at Somerville. It wasn’t my largest piece, but it was a massive undertaking that required organization, delegation, and trust. I led and prepped everything with the team and was actually out of the country on install day. I loved knowing that the business could run beautifully even without me physically there.
How do you unwind at the end of the day?
I love to segue into the end of my workday by listening to relaxing music. I try to cut off checking emails at 7pm—admin and correspondence give me anxiety. No two days are ever the same, just like no two nights are. I also love a good dinner.
Your dog, Capri, is the absolute sweetest. How did you two meet?
Capri is an angel, I’ve had her since she was such a couple of months old by way of a friend of a friend. It was love at first sight.
Favorite skincare ritual?
I’ve been into oils and butters as ways to moisturize. Serenity Now Body Butter has such a great consistency, especially for when I’m fresh out of the shower.
You divide your time between Los Angeles and New York City. What’s your favorite part about each city?
I was born and raised in LA. New York City has this hold on me, it’s something I romanticize because it’s so different from what I know. I love being in the thick of it when I’m there, with the sense that adventure waits around every corner. But it’s also difficult, everything there is. That intensity can fade when you still live in your hometown. And yet, LA will always be home. I love the culture, the geography, the open space, the architecture. It’s familiar and cozy in a way that will never change, an easier way to live.
What does living in harmony mean to you?
Living in harmony is a balancing act, one I hope to grow more graceful in as the years pass. For me, it means living in a flow state with myself, my intuition, and what’s best for me and those around me.
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Interviewed & Photographed by Micaela Hoo, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, My July
