For months, we’ve been kept at arm’s length during artists Tasya van Ree and Nitsa Citrine’s creative process for what they’re calling Women With Superpowers. They have gathered familiar and unfamiliar faces in the community and captured their energies on camera for the world to meet. Today, we hear from the twosome about their vision for Women With Superpowers, their reverential friendship with each other, and their own superpowers we often forget we, too, hold inside. This collection of women with purpose— captured by the lenses of these two inventive beings—and the souls behind them have had us all wondering what will come of the passion project. They are manifesting empowerment, and the energy is echoing to women (and men!) everywhere. We are thrilled to walk with these strong forces and further encourage their commitment to celebrate the feminine as artist, activist and healer.

Article by: Karli Quinn

How did you two come into one another’s lives? Describe the energy you felt when you first met and what ultimately led you two to venture in business together.

Tasya: Cosmic intervention.

Nitsa embodies a lot of divine energy. When first meeting her, the interaction was subtle and familiar, radiant and powerful. We’ve floated through different levels of friendship throughout the years but always retained a deeper form of connection. It was inevitable that we would one day create magic together.

Nitsa: We met at her art show at the Lodge in Los Angeles in March, 2015. The show was packed and there was a lot of energy in the space, but Tasya took a moment to speak with me, which I appreciated. The kindness and sincerity in her presence struck me.

Describe your business model and the vision you each have for Women With Superpowers as well as the roles you are taking on to carry out its success.

Nitsa: Our business model and the intention behind the project is to honor, nourish and celebrate the feminine.

Tasya: Our role is to be extremely present in the process, and we are both open to the infinite possibilities.

Superpower is defined as having “excessive or superior power.” How do you two define superpower? And what is it about the women you choose to highlight that speaks to your own definition(s)?

Tasya: The word “superpower” is a fantastical way to describe your truth, the definitive reality in which you exist in and are from, your essence, and your force of life.

The women are mirrors, and so are we.

Nitsa: To me, a superpower is a magical constellation of energy we recognize and cultivate within ourselves.

What enthused you about focusing on women?

Tasya: The feminine is profound by nature and I have a deep affection and intrigue for their presence.

Nitsa: I love women! I love shooting women!!

How do you choose the women with whom you meet?

Tasya: Every woman is perfect, and we hope to one day photograph each and every one of them!

Nitsa: Intuition, resonance, and fourth dimensional alignment.

Do you think you will ever include men in your idea for this work?

Tasya: Anything is possible.

Nitsa: I would love to see what a Men With Superpowers series would look like.

Do you believe you have superpowers? Tell us about each of your own superpowers and how they compare to your idea of possessing a superpower as a child.

Tasya: Everyone and everything has superpowers.

My superpower is the ability to translate the unknown through a poetic prism.

Whether you are a child or an adult, it is all based on your imagination.

Nitsa: Multi-dimensional love frequency.

We’ve all heard it’s not always wise to mix business with pleasure. Seeing as you two are very close friends, how does this work out for you? Can you share some advice for making this business partnership work in conjunction with sharing a close friendship?

Tasya: It’s a beautiful dynamic filled with respect, love, honesty, and loyalty. I feel that everything can flourish when these elements are in place and shared.

Nitsa: Well, we are only two months into the project so we have yet to see how it all unfolds but I will say it is an honor and delight to get to work with one of my favorite human beings. Tasya has a great eye and exceptional mind, constantly inspiring me to grow, and I trust her perspective very much. So, being able to collaborate with her is an absolute pleasure.

Some might argue that we are all capable of having superpowers and it might just be how we define them that makes that so. Some may even say that superpowers are our individual strengths as human beings. Do you agree with this? Do you think everyone has superpowers?

Tasya: Absolutely. Above and beyond.

Nitsa: I feel that anyone and everyone who acknowledges their power and presence as a means to create positivity and magic in the world holds the potential of a superpower – the trick is learning how to own and activate it!

What superpowers do you wish you had?

Tasya: The superpower to save all wildlife from extinction.

Nitsa: I have always wished to breathe underwater, become invisible, heal any wound, illness, or imbalance. And, fly!

And – today especially – would love to have the superpower of teleportation. I am ready to master that now!

You are both active on social media, and so followers have been able to see highlights of your interactions with the women you interview. There is an aspect we don’t see that pulls your work together. How does each meeting go? What information are you looking for the women to share, and what are you hoping to capture?

Tasya: We try to create a space that is open and genuine, infinite and wild. What conspires and develops, which we try to capture through an individual and collaborative effort, is an authentic unification of color and rhythm when women come together. Beauty and gold. Laughter and a full heart of blazing joy.

Nitsa: Well, the intention behind every shoot is to explore each woman’s inner world and superpower through a photographic lens. Beyond this, we are pretty much in a constant, open dialogue on ideas for the project. Whether it is a stream of inspiration, women we want to weave into the series, organizational aspects, post processing details, or the cosmic back and forth.

Earlier, we wanted to know what you thought your own superpowers were. Now, we wonder if you could each describe a superpower you see in one another.

Tasya: Nitsa is like a sacred dream painted in glowing wisdom traveling in all forms, across all time, through all space.

Nitsa: Tasya has infinite superpowers but, if I had to pick one, it would be her ability to express her heart and imagination through her hands –and with so much honesty and beauty!