Meet Gakwaya Gisa | Starting this year I go by Gakwaya! I am an artist

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

Hi Gakwaya, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process started when I was working at a grocery store! I saw how we would get mistreated at work by customers and it motivated me to start taking my art seriously. I used to be in my head about my work not being good or realistic enough so I’d never share it publicly! One day I posted one of the art pieces and asked my followers “if you like this comment a heart” and so many people commented and from there I started painting and posting and auctioning them off! As time passed, I started making more money doing what I loved. That was the sign I really wanted and it just kept getting better and led to me having an art show!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My journey as an artist started when I was about 7 years old. My 3rd grade teacher asked me to draw for my class and that made me hyped as a kid and since then I’ve always been a creative kid. I feel that what sets me apart from others, is my personal life experience and over all my story. I lived in Rwanda for 16 years and then moved to America in 2012. I feel like being here has taught me a lot! Good and bad but I’m grateful for the ride because that’s what life is all about. What i am proud of the most is how far I’ve come! I came here without speaking English and I’ve honestly achieved a lot of things since! I am also really proud of where I come from! Rwanda inspires me a lot because we’ve been through a lot as a country and to see where we are today is something I admire. Im happy to start branching there as a creative and entrepreneur! I started a business there last year and I can’t wait to do more. I am also happy to give back to my people in a way! I hope to start an art program there and show the kids that art can change your life because it changed mine! I know my story can inspire others to also believe in their own creative dreams! I feel that I got where I am today by not giving up and also just really believing in myself when other people didn’t! I am a person who don’t give up easily when it comes to something I’m passionate about! Art is not an easy career but if you’re dedicated, nothing is impossible! I’ve overcome the challenges by always showing up for myself no matter what because nobody else will do that for me! Before I quit my job, I’d get home super tired and as soon as I started painting, I’d gain the energy from expressing myself. Sometimes I’d be in my basement til about 4 am making art! I just knew art was something that I was destined to do! The lessons I’ve learned are to always believe in yourself! Always be your biggest fan because I feel that no one knows you the way you know yourself! People can have opinions about your future but they don’t know what’s inside your soul. Knowing your true self requires a lot of personal work. You have to be grounded & look deep inside and ask yourself what you want for yourself. There are a lot of distractions out here so it’s best to quiet the noises and just focus on what your soul truly desires. I’d like for the world to know that everything is possible when you don’t stop working on yourself. Also to never be afraid of failing! Because it’s a part of all of us. Everyone fails and it’s okay as long as you learn from what you did wrong so you can move forward with more strength! Also I’d like for the world to know that your story doesn’t define who you are! We can always rise from the struggles if we just keep moving forward, because what I do know is that it can always be worse! When something bad happens to me, instead of complaining I just take a deep breath and realize that someone out there is dealing with something way worse than me and that has helped me a lot in this life. I can’t wait to share my story with the world through art.

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.
Well I’m a nomad so I’m constantly moving to new places and I’d say I’m a pretty simple guy who just loves nature more than anything else other than creating! I guess since San Antonio is my base, we’d start by getting some coffee at one of the local shops, take them to my favorite parks for long walks, then go support small businesses like restaurants, second hand stores and so on… I also love going to art shows or museums for inspiration . Other things I enjoy is go dancing to places where they play afrobeats, reggae music, house music and other genres that make you want to move your body. Here and there I might go out to bars with friends but more lately I’ve been staying to myself a little as I was focusing on my studio projects and preparing for shows. Other than that I also love running and playing soccer with friends. I was in PNW area for four months and I’d say they had the best nature for great hikes. I got to surf and enjoy other outdoorsy activities! I just love doing things that involves nature. Currently I’m in Los Angeles til the summer then I’ll be going back to Rwanda for some time to prepare for my “Mama Africa” exhibition that’s happening in April of 2025!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to say my mother who is in Rwanda! She might be far from me but her strength and resilience keeps me going and inspired!

Website: AlainGakwaya.com

Instagram: Gakwaya_gisa

Facebook: Alain Gakwaya

Image Credits
Mage Buse Gabriel Hernandez