Meet Aja Cobbs | Founder/ C.E.O of The Art Trap House (T.aking R.eal A.rt P.laces)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aja Cobbs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aja, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking can be pretty risky at times but through my risk taking dealings, I have found, you must be thoughtful before you take your risk. If you fail to prepare then prepare to fail. It is also better to be proactive than reactive, see, doesn’t that already make the risk taking seem so much lighter? This can be easy!!! You just have to know how to approach the risk.

Oftentimes you want to be prepared for certain aspects of the risk you are about to take to help you stay on a steady track and not feel like you’re jumping off a cliff without a parachute. For instance, you may want to start a traveling music and arts festival, like me, mine is called, The Art Trap House. This was a huge risk because I dove into the unknown. You will want to research and study festivals for a while. You will want to study every element from the entertainment aspect, from having staff, to having a stage with lighting, funding, sponsorships, grants, safety/security, artists and vendors, and much more. Of course you’re stepping out on a limb and may even feel a bit scared or timid. But preparing before the risk is SUPER helpful. It gives you a sense of confidence. With knowledge there is power, so be wise when it comes to decision making. Think about how it will affect you in the present as well as the future. At times you have to think about how your choices will affect those around you as well. I believe risk’s are most beautifully taken after you have envisioned yourself where you want to be. The risk seems a whole lot more worth it. Hold your vision close!

The role that risk taking has played in my life and career has been a blessing for me. I have pushed myself and ended up with opportunities that I never thought could be possible for me. In my mind I often say, “feel the fear and do it anyway.” I also remind myself to allow my faith to be bigger than my fears , which has served as such a strong formula for my constant success. Through your risk taking you have to stay focused, you must pray and be open to practicing receiving/knowing what is for you, study, and have a little fun while you’re at it!

Feel the fear and do it anyway! What can it hurt? There will be bumps along the road but that allows you to build character, learn what to do or what not to do next time, and possibly how you can make whatever it is that you’re doing better! Not everything that we think is negative is actually negative that happens to us. Go into your risk with a positive mindset and with a problem solving/conflict resolution mindset. (Only because taking risks is “Boss” and that’s what Bosses have to do!!!!) If it’s in your heart, take the risk! I say go for it. Wishing you the very best! “Let a word to the wise be more than sufficient” – Jerome Hughes

Dreams by Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

A lot of people know me as a painter but I enjoy creating in a plethora of ways! I am an event/festival curator/coordinator, a painter, a clothing designer, an artist manager and developer, I enjoy marketing and creating marketing tools/techniques, I love listening to music and posting it to my Facebook to create a vibe for my page, or any social media platform, I enjoy teaching those around me about Black History, and I enjoy creating opportunities for creatives. There are so many ways that I enjoy creating and I believe that’s what sets me apart from other creatives. It’s more so my approach to how I create that makes me different or stand out from the crowd. My art is very creative and very personal to me. I create art with a lot of emotion, most times I’m very excited and happy to create! But if ever I’m going through a challenging time, I place my emotions into my creation so I don’t have to hold on to it. It’s a positive coping skill that I will always rely on to keep me moving forward. I often create while listening to music, the music even helps me see colors and envision my piece or ideas before they begin. I am inspired by the world around me and the day to day life of people. I feel like my art is relatable to everyday people. In many ways it is nostalgic. I enjoy that feeling of going back into a place in time where you felt happy. A lot of people view my art and smile, I love that! I am inspired by the everyday person hustling to live a better life. I am inspired by the underdog and the diamonds in the rough.

I am most proud of my music and arts festivals. I absolutely adore creating them. It can be a lot of hard work with all the planning, I’ve found that I am very meticulous when it comes to planning. I have worked with so many people and learned so many lessons about business, what to do, what not to do and so much more.

I have learned so much about creating, I learned that you have to start somewhere, and people might judge where you start, why you started, and how you start. But don’t worry about how others feel about your craft (of course take constructive criticism when you feel it’s necessary for you) but create what you love and do it to the best of your abilities. Be sure to refine your craft as you move forward. I’ve learned through life to accept what comes with the territory of the lifestyle you’re trying to live. That doesn’t mean that you have to take disrespect or mistreatment from people or be a part of bad contracts/business but there are simply some things you must accept when you live a certain lifestyle. I believe learning these life lessons as well as business lessons has helped to set me up professionally. I know how to approach many situations and be prepared for what is to come.

Many of the challenges I had to overcome were keeping my mental health in check. I really had to be watchful of the company I kept around me and how it affected my spirit, which affected how I created. I also learned to be more disciplined and learned how to use my discernment. With discipline, I realized I don’t need everything that everyone else has, I don’t need likes to validate who I am as a person, and I also became extremely disciplined on how I react to things when I feel like I was being attacked or someone did me wrong. I learned that the outcome of a situation can be determined by how I approach it and respond. While utilizing these tools it has led to the success of Aja Cobbs and The Art Trap House. As you continue in your profession, you will come across challenges. I advise you to pay close attention when challenges or new opportunities arise. How will you approach them? How well will you use your own special gifts to get you to where you need to be?

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My Favorite spots to visit in Atlanta are my friends Larie’s and Shani’s house! Those are two of my close friends, they are both creatives. When we get together the vibes are always beautiful, real, and genuine! What more can you ask for from friends? You will actually see both of their names on projects for The Art Trap House. Shani is doing the graphic design work for our new radio show, Rizz Radio and Larie will be helping with the broadcasting and production of the radio station.

Additional places I love hanging out at is, Little Five Points. There is a high end second hand clothing store in that area that I enjoy as well, I literally love the way it’s organized! I love going to Little Five Points because of the artwork! There is a certain time of year when it’s really poppin’ to be out there, if you suggest to an ATL native going when it’s not that time of year, they will surely give you the bombastic side-eye. LOL!! The area is amazing for photoshoots!
Another location I enjoy visiting is Castleberry. I hosted my second Art Trap House event at the famous City of Ink in Castleberry, I love that space! The artists there are amazing and the owner of City Of Ink, Miya Bailey is originally from Asheville, NC. Asheville is where I spent most of my youth years. Another one of my favorite places to hit up is 2 Chainz Bar and Tapas, Escobar. The food is great! Staff and vibes are amazing!
There are so many places that I enjoy visiting while in Atlanta but last on my list would have to be visiting The Trap Music Museum. If you are an art lover, someone who resonates with the Trap lifestyle, Trap music, and Black Culture, you’ll be sure to appreciate this spot. I was invited to, The Only Christopher We Celebrate is Wallce. It was an event dedicated solely to Notorious B.I.G. There were MTV broadcasters reporting live from the event, all the artwork was Biggie, they even changed a whole room to make it look like Brooklyn, with props and actors to set the scene, there was a DJ, photographers, a meet the artists segment, hors d’oeuvres, drink bar sponsored by Patron and much more The featured artists, and planning was amazing behind this event, at the end of the event, T.I dropped in spoke to everyone. Another interesting artifact under the umbrella within The Trap Music Museum, is that there is an escape room. The actors are great at their job and create dope experiences for the guests who can make it out the Trap. If you’re looking for a lit experience at The Trap Music Museum, go when they are hosting a party or an event to get the full experienc

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost I have to give a colossal shoutout to God. He has protected me and shined his light upon my path so that I could see the direction he wanted me to go. I am beyond appreciative of his grace, mercy, protection, forgiveness, and his many blessings.

I would like to shoutout to my beautiful family and close friends! Thank you for holding me down! Each of my family and friends have supported me in some way and I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Shoutout to my supporters who are always engaging with me on social media, sending me funny videos, attending my events, donating time or funds, sharing posts, and all that good stuff. Yall are such a vibe!! Thank You all!

Lastly, I want to thank myself! I have been presented with some pretty tough challenges. I am very proud of myself and all that I have accomplished thus far.

Instagram: @AjaCobbs @TheArtTrapHouse

Facebook: Aja Cobbs The Art Trap House

Youtube: The Art Trap House Tour

Other: Check out The Good Dealer Podcast on The Art Trap House Tour. Listen to The Art Trap Houses NEW radio station, RIZZ Radio on New York’s online radio station, RhythmAndSoul.Com! Coming Soon!