Artistic and creative careers are among the most rewarding, but they also come with unique challenges. We asked some of the city’s best creatives to tell us why they choose to pursue a creative career.

Cierra St. Hubert-Upshaw | Business Consultant & Creative

Whewww! I started my business in 2018 after losing someone very close to me. It was a dark time for me because I was fresh out of grad school in a job I once loved but no longer aligned with. I had always been creative. I loved to play around with colors and making keepsakes for others. My best friend at the time saw how much I was dealing with and always sent me messages and pictures to cheer me up. He actually designed my first logo for my IG page, Healing Hearts, that talked about dealing with grief. Read more>>

Yueming Li | Illustrator

I hope to connect, express, and communicate with people. My experiences of living abroad have made me realize the existence of barriers posed by oral languages, particularly when translating abstract concepts between different languages. However, I believe that visual language has the power to overcome these barriers. Through creating a captivating atmosphere and conveying emotional expressions in my artworks, I aim to communicate feelings that are often difficult to translate into other languages to audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds. This aspect holds a strong appeal to me, and I have been dedicated to exploring it. Read more>>

Meet Manami LINGERFELT | Artist & Singer

I only could imagine myself being an artist. i mean I could be happy and live my life with what I wanted to do is to make colorful and fun around my world. I believe we need more art in this world to bring ourself happy and shine, laugh to live. expressing inside me through art is the way I feel myself meaning to live, to be able to share myself from what I love and even I feel appreciation from what I create. it is very important for myself to live happy. because I know happiness is contagious. so we must be happy and must share the way to be happy. Read more>>

Ché (Ché Butta) Chin King | Lyric Coloratura Soprano

To be honest, my original plan did not include the path that I’m currently on. I was going to be a web developer. I was told at a very young age that singing was a hobby, and not a career. So, even though my heart was in music, I didn’t think that it was something I could pursue as a career. Read more>>

Jasmine Nelson | Portrait Photographer

I really have to give all credit to my husband. He has always been into photography and has a wonderful eye for creative scenes. I never thought of myself as very creative. Frankly, when you have to learn to be an adult and support yourself at an early age, being “creative” was something I didn’t have time to even dream about. I worked in a coffee shop just over a decade and not really having a full education, I didn’t see myself being able to do anything else. When I looked at the photos my husband took of his travels, it did spark a very small interest. Read more>>

Lein | Singer, Composer, Vocal Instructor

Well, I definitely wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t love it. As they unfortunately say with careers in the arts, if you can picture yourself doing absolutely anything else, DO THAT INSTEAD. A career in the music industry is not for the faint of heart, especially for those who choose the independent route. I grew up with two parents in the arts and saw firsthand how much work this life is. But my parents value art and its place and purpose in society. I value music more than anything. I believe in its power not just to enhance, but to heal, to connect, to bring understanding. Good art resonates, makes you feel something. Great art can shift perspectives. I guess I feel I have a message to transmit and hearts to change. Read more>>

Sarah Scargill | Interior Designer

My introduction to the concept of interior design came from very humble beginnings: my parents left HGTV on far too much. I grew up with an excitement for the built environment. I remember staying in hotels and running from room to room, trying to discover all of its secrets. There were family vacations to beautiful locations, however I couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel and have my breath taken away once more by the interiors. Read more>>

Angelique Tassistro Herron | Ceramics Artist

I grew up in a creative family. My grandmother was an antique collector and dealer, known for throwing lavish parties. My mother was the most creative person I have ever known. She painted professionally but was creative in everything she did. She was constantly working on a creative project. I can’t remember a time that a project was not happening. Read more>>

Keymari Jones | Filmmaker & Actress/Model

Ever since I was a little girl, I was always drawn to the arts. Growing up in a divided household, I witnessed firsthand the challenges and sacrifices my parents made to provide for our family. We didn’t have many material possessions or extravagant experiences, but what we did have was an abundance of love, resilience, and creativity. In the midst of our modest lifestyle, I found solace and inspiration in the world of arts. Read more>>

Susan Saul | Studio artist, educator, creativity coach

Honestly, I don’t remember it ever actually being a choice for me. I was always drawn to creative pursuits of different types. I grew up with a lot of exposure to visual and performing arts. My parents always made sure that there were art books and craft supplies at home, and they also took us to see different kinds of theater productions and museums. This was a long time ago, before the internet or home computers. We didn’t watch much television, We got information from encyclopedias and the library. I was a voracious reader with a vivid imagination, and thus developed a rich inner life. There was just always something in me that wanted to be expressed through drawing, writing, fiber arts, and there was plenty of encouragement for that all throughout my childhood. Read more>>

Alice Narang | Creative Director (Bedi NYC)

I had a vision for something beautiful when I was nine years old. Armed with a design in my head, I announced my ambition to create a shirt to my mother. Together, we embarked on a journey to bring it to life. After a trip to the nearest fabric store, where I was captivated by a bolt of white polyester adorn with a shimmery gold overlay, I sat down at my Barbie sewing machine and, with my mom’s help, meticulously crafted and sewed my first shirt. And I was hooked. Looking back, I have no idea why I was so determined to bring my vision to life. But it sparked a new vision and innate aspiration: to become a fashion designer.. Read more>>

Kierstin Graham | Yoga Therapist & Trauma Sensitive Yoga Instructor

I couldn’t see myself doing anything else! I spent years trying to convince myself to follow the “traditional path”, but it never felt right. I wanted to be able to explore outside the lines when it came to supporting others because we are all so different! There is not a “one size fits all” way to live, we are all unique individuals with different priorities and goals and should be treated as such. My work as a Trauma Informed Yoga Therapist allows me the space to offer just that. An opportunity to support community growth while honoring individuality. Read more>>

Antonio Alexander | Creative Photographer

As I reflect on my journey as an artist and entrepreneur, the question of why I chose to pursue an artistic or creative career brings forth a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment. Two distinct reasons drove me to embark on this path, each intertwining with my passion for photography and my unwavering faith. Read more>>

Yan Shao | illustrator｜designer

I have loved drawing since elementary school. It all started because I enjoyed reading comics, and then I gradually began to try drawing on my own. At first, I simply saw drawing as a hobby, but later I realized how much I enjoyed bringing to life what I imagined in my mind or what I saw on paper. So, with great determination, I decided that I would pursue drawing as my profession in the future. Read more>>

Ariel Andrew | Opera Singer

Opera was never part of the original game plan for my life. It caught me by surprise, but I have loved it ever since. Read more>>

Rome Westfield | Artist

Since graduating college I have released three albums professionally along with a couple music videos. I also have done my fair share of live performances. This journey has not been easy and there are a lot of ups and downs that come with being an independent artist but I wouldn’t change it for the world because the journey is the best part of the process not getting where you’re trying to go. I have recently released a new mixtape entitled “Luv Me While I’m Still Here” this project is available on all streaming platforms. This is just the tip of the iceberg I have so much more in store for this year and the years to come. Read more>>

Kinesis Theory | Alternative Rock Band

We all individually grew up exposed to different genres of music in some way. For each of us music has always been a part of our everyday lives. The lead singer, Taylor, and background vocalist, Jamika, are sisters who group up in a multi-talented family surrounded by musicians and vocalists. The drummer, Ty, started off playing the piano, singing, and then learned how to play the drums. Elleye, the producer, was introduced to music at a young age. He also plays the guitar and piano. So for Kinesis Theory it was inevitable to pursue a creative path professionally. Creativity has been a part of our lives since childhood. It’s in our blood. So we wanted to create a safe space to show others how they can create a platform to express themselves like we did. Read more>>