We asked some of the city’s leading artists and creatives to tell us about how they decided to pursue an artistic or creative career.  We’ve shared some highlights below.

Aaleyah I Don’t Want To Include | Upcoming Fashion Stylist, Upcoming Professional Dancer, Small business Owner

Since I was born, I have always wanted to be involved in the arts, whether it was dance, film, photography, or fashion. However, growing up in a Black family, I was often told to focus on STEM fields because they were seen as more reliable for making money. I understood their point, but my passion for the arts never faded; I was just afraid of what others would think. My main goal was to find a group of people who appreciated what my family didn’t understand. Once I realized that my fear of being noticed was unnecessary, I started making more videos to express myself in my own way. I also knew early on that I didn’t want to work a 9-to-5 job for the rest of my life, especially during college. Read more>>

Ellie Copeland | Visual Development and Background Artist

I pursued an artistic career because art was something I grew up with and eventually knew it was something I could spend my whole life doing. As a kid, I had two amazing role models, my parents. They always encouraged my creativity be it drawing, painting, jewelry making or even ceramics. I grew each year into new mediums and honed my skills into a hobby that I was proud of. As I started to consider colleges in high school, I asked myself the main and only question about what I wanted to do in life. Did I want to sit in a lab all day pursuing a career in Biology, or did I want to sit in a studio all day pursuing a career in Animation? The answer was simple, I wanted to do Animation. Read more>>

Isabella Luna | Content Creator & PR Specialist

As a child, I was obsessed with everything fabulous and beautiful, whether it was fashion, beauty, or art. I attended painting camps in elementary school, dabbled in photography and videography in college, and never stopped playing dress-up. In my 9-5 career as a PR Account Executive, I’ve learned a lot about social media strategy and influencer marketing. Content creation was the perfect and most natural outlet to express all of my interests and experiences. I feel compelled to take everyday moments of my life and make them into beautiful events worth capturing. It allows me to blend my love for aesthetics with storytelling. Read more>>

Jahnova Kamil | Tattooer and Fine Artist

I pursued an artistic career because I like for every aspect of my life to be creative, including business. I enjoy having the liberty to produce as much as I like to on my own time. Being able to create my own schedule and disciplining myself to stick to said schedule is rewarding. I love meeting people from different walks of life and bringing their vision to reality. Being an artist is fun, challenging and communal; all qualities of life that are meaningful to me. Read more>>

Karla Santiago | Fashion Designer & Aspiring Entrepreneur

From a young age, I felt a deep connection to art. Creativity has always been a driving force in my life. While I considered other paths, nothing resonated as deeply as the arts. My parents, both immigrants, made incredible sacrifices so I could have better opportunities. Seeing their dedication and sacrifices motivated me to embrace my artistic passions and pursue a creative career that provides a unique platform to honor their hard work and share my perspective, influenced by both my heritage and my personal experiences. Read more>>

L.”von” Johnson | Multi-Media Creative

I decided to pursue an artistic career because I have always had a vivid imagination. Whether it was music, writing, film, dance, I was always….curious. I read somewhere that said, that you are the only one like you that will ever exist, if you don’t share what you were meant to, it will be lost forever, once you’re gone. You’ll never know if what you’re creating will be influential to another. I believe that what we create is meant to be shared. Read more>>

Morgan Shaughnessy | Musician & Artist

Pure love and interpretation/storytelling ability. The desire to make others feel blissed out, the way music makes me feel. Read more>>

Nicole Brown | Chief Creator/Head Designer

I’ve always been an artistic soul. It only made sense to make use of my passions and create something wonderful to share with others. Proverbs 18:16 states that your gift will make room for you and bring you in front of great people. So I knew that no matter how I chose to pursue designing, it would do well. Read more>>