Meet Fenix Lobo | Artist

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

Hi Fenix, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I decided to pursue a creative career because I found that art allows me to express myself in infinitive ways and connect with others in the process. My love for art began at an early age, thanks to my mother and sister, who encouraged me to communicate my thoughts and emotions through various mediums and introduced me to many artists such as Frida Khalo, Salvador Dali, and Georgia O’Keeffe. It wasn’t until college that I realized that creating art was something I wanted to continue eternally. When I worked on my senior thesis at the University of South Florida, I produced charcoal drawings reflecting my anxiety disorder. In doing so, I hoped to offer a sense of familiarity to viewers who may relate to my work by comprehending similar symptoms that they may feel themselves and seeing how they can work with it rather than against it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am recently most proud of finishing my studio art degree from the University of South Florida. Being the only charcoal-focused BFA artist in my department, I was determined to use all of my capabilities to create personal and meaningful pieces of work that others could relate to, even though charcoal is not commonly known as a professional medium. I wanted to depict the beauty and horror of vulnerability in my work while also emphasizing the excellence of charcoal through its versatility, expressiveness, texture, and fragility. Being an artist can come with many challenges, such as receiving recognition and configuring a plan for a steady income. I am fortunate enough to have connected with many local artists in Tampa who support me and vice versa. Building a strong network and seeking out opportunities is very important. An achievement of mine was reaching out to the courtroom artist, Jane Rosenberg, who presented a job for me to be a courtroom artist for a trial in Tampa back in September 2022. This opportunity encouraged me to pursue such positions as an artist.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Tampa has many exciting places to check out while visiting. For instance, there is Channelside and the Riverwalk which offer great options for restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and great views of the city. I would definitely recommend Ybor City for creatives because of places like Tempus Projects that offer opportunities for artists. There is also the Tampa Museum of Art, The Florida Aquarium, and Busch Gardens! But my personal favorite will always be The Castle in Ybor.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to honor credit to my mother, Vilma Ramirez, and my sister, Avril Sanjuanelo, for always supporting my passion for the arts. I would also like to thank my talented peers and instructors from Broward College and the University of South Florida for always motivating me to push myself further.

Instagram: @fenixlobo.art

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fenixlobo/