Meet Evie Lozano | Storyteller, Creative Director, & Stylist

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

Hi Evie, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am a First-Generation Chicana born and raised in Georgia, grew up in Norcross in Gwinnett County, and my family is from Aguascalientes, Mexico. Although the demographic of my school and our neighborhoods were predominantly Black and Brown, self-expression and individuality were not as encouraged due to assimilation and binary values. But my mother was always very vocal about our culture and instilled pride in our heritage and the values of what it meant to be Mexican-American. Growing up, my mom was always working multiple jobs in the restaurant industry, so early on I was exposed to the hospitality environment and fell in love with the creation and collaboration aspect of it. The summer before starting high school I found out about the Navigate Program, which was created by my now mentor Chef Simone Byron. This was my avenue to higher education, as I was able to learn about financial literacy, culinary skills, business professionalism, and have now received multiple scholarships for university. This is why I will always advocate for Work Based Learning programs, especially in Title I schools, as they give young minds the resources to excel that they deserve. Such opportunities nurtured me and gave me the confidence to pursue my creative endeavors in my own personal way. July 2023 marks one year since I put out my first series of photos; I am a storyteller, creative director, and stylist. Creating stories through photos is a liberating extension of myself that enables me to tap into another form of creativity, in addition to my hospitality/culinary endeavors.

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.
I’m a Brown, Queer, and Gender-nonconforming individual who grew up in the South. Growing up I never saw myself in the characters from mainstream media. It wasn’t until I started college and started connecting with local Gwinnett & Atlanta Latine creatives, that my thoughts and creativity expanded to a place I didn’t know was possible. Documentation and stories of Brown folks have been amplified over the past decade but are still so scarce. Through my work, I enjoy exploring dynamics within my family, personal identity, Mexican American culture, and acknowledging the intersection between Black and Brown stories by putting them at the front of my work. Creative direction and styling come hand in hand for me because through fashion and body language I can evoke emotion and a sense of relatedness. Although I’m not a photographer, I’m very intentional with who I collaborate to bring my ideas to life. I’ve been creating for a year now and I’m still navigating the nuances as I’m self-taught, but I’ve learned to be patient with myself and celebrate vulnerability. To create work not only for others but myself. “Fludiez Floreciente,” in collaboration with photographer Thrashbear, is one of my ongoing portrait series. “Fluidez Floreciente” explores gender fluidity and how gender-nonconforming individuals embrace their multifaceted identities. Every photo is an extension of the subject’s identity, but their identity is not exclusive to those depictions. In addition, I’m very proud of “Por Siempre Junto a Ti,” which is a series also in collaboration with photographer Thrashbear. That body of work centers around the multifaceted dynamic between my mother and I— a young, Mexican American mother and her firstborn. As well as, “Poder en Unidad,” which is a series in collaboration with photographer Brayan Enriquez. That body of work captures Latine unity, the complexity of those bonds, and what that means to us. The privilege of being physically and emotionally available with your loved ones is a luxury that is not available for many Brown folks growing up, but it is one we deserve.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are many fun spots that come to mind when I think of planning moves since I jump between living in Gwinnett and going to school/working in Atlanta, but some of my favorite places that come to mind are hanging out at The Underground, there are always shows happening during the week, with local bands and performance art. Going to the Plaza Theatre to watch a movie, walk the Beltline, or eat Latine comfort snacks at Plaza Fiesta. If we wanted to go eat somewhere, we could go to Umaido for ramen or El Taco Veloz for tacos, or hang out for coffee at Momo Cafe in Midtown. If we wanted to go for a nice walk, Lullwater Park is a good spot.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my Mom Carolina Lozano, my Mentors Chef Simone Byron & Shular Hospitality Group, Creative/my best friend Delaney Escobar, Photographer/good friend Thrashbear, and Creative Director/Stylist Marcus Correa. Some of these folks have been in my life longer than others, but nonetheless, have all continuously believed in and supported me in their own way, and have given me creative autonomy for evolution and self-discovery. I’m extremely thankful to have each of them in my life.

Instagram: @evieelozano

Image Credits
– Delaney Escobar – Thrashbear – Brayan Enriquez