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

Hi Aistė, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, starting my own business felt like a rite of passage. Witnessing friends start their own businesses in the last couple of years has also inspired and motivated me to start my own entrepreneurial journey.

After completing my graduate school program in Emerging Media, Design, and Development at Ball State University in 2017 and after several years of working with nonprofits, corporations, and governments, I felt it was time to take the leap to design my own creative venture. Like many employees during the Great Resignation in early 2021, I too quit my full-time job to heal from burnout. I took a break from work to rest and reflect on what could come next. I realized that as a neurodivergent person who is Deaf/Hard of Hearing, working for myself would give me the freedom and more options to create an accessible work environment; choose my own creative projects across industries; create the flexibility I need to produce creative work on my own terms; set my own rates and schedule; and most importantly, collaborate with clients who share some of my core values like community, beauty, vitality, exploration, and learning.

From magazine writing and marketing to graphic design and painting, the diverse experiences and skillsets under my belt allowed me to use my strengths and passions to create a job that I love. Today, my business Aistė Rye Creative serves international clients, offering services in graphic design, copywriting, illustration, and mural design.

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.
As a Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Queer woman raised in post-Soviet Lithuania and coming of age in America, I often engage with the world from a position that transcends multiple cultural binaries. My artwork is informed by my experiences navigating an able-bodied, xenophobic, and patriarchal society, and seeks to challenge assumptions about culture, gender, feminism, and the Deaf experience. Through my educational experiences with American Sign Language in recent years, I became deeply connected to the Deaf community, which inspired my latest body of work. My paintings are representational, employing vibrant colors with sharp contrasts of light and shadow. They are often dreamlike with the intent of taking the audience on spiritual journeys into the surreal, inviting them to return to the ultimate path: the journey into themselves.

I am most proud of my curated exhibit at Slip Gallery in Seattle last year titled DEAFhood: Reflections on identity and Deaf culture. This group exhibition of 11 Deaf and Hard of Hearing artists expressed the Deaf experience from a cultural, linguistic, and intersectional point of view (also known as Deaf View/Image Art or De’VIA) via paintings, graphics, photography, mixed media, and GIFs. Fostering community is an important part of my art practice and I feel grateful for the opportunity to bring the hearing and Deaf communities together to learn from the art, and essentially, learn about the Deaf experience. I’m also proud of my latest outdoor mural project in July 2022, which was a collaboration with Seattle-based Illustrator and Mural Designer Eleanor Doughty. Located at Jefferson St. and Broadway in Seattle, this mural is inspired by the Pacific Northwest scenery and historic landmarks of the First Hill neighborhood. Be sure to check it out if you are in the area!

Choosing to work in a creative field, particularly as an entrepreneur has, many benefits but it also comes with challenges that can bring up deep-seated feelings like expectations about earnings and success, questions about identity, and knowing what you truly want. As an artist and entrepreneur, trust in yourself and risk-taking are key to growth. It takes courage to create a unique path that works for you despite what everyone else is doing or what you are told you “should” do. Learning to listen to and follow my intuition has helped me get to where I am today, in addition to the handful of wonderful mentors and friends who have encouraged and supported me every step of the way.

I’m excited to see where my business takes me in 2023 and look forward to collaborating on more murals and illustration projects!

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.
When friends visit Seattle, especially if it’s their first time, I recommend a combination of museums, parks, and restaurants to checkout. For a weekend trip, checkout Chihuly Garden and Glass to learn about one of the many Seattle’s glassblowing talents; Pier 57 waterfront in the evening for a magical view of Puget Sound; Alki Beach via a ferry to explore diverse sea life, and the Belltown Art Walk every second Friday of the month to check out one of Seattle’s many thriving art scenes. If you have a love for French cuisine, visit Le Pichet near Pike Place Market. The bistro was of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite places to dine in Seattle. As for coffee, tea, and pastries, a visit to the local favorite Macrina Bakery is a must!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people to thank who have supported me in my creative business journey. Among the handful of amazing creative entrepreneurs, artists, mentors, and teachers who I’ve had the privilege to get to know, I’d like to give special shoutouts to my parents who have cheered me on since day one of starting my creative career. I would also like to thank my friends Anastasia Schemkes, a passionate Climate Justice Coach and Consultant for Holistic Underground based in Seattle; Jacquee Kurdas, a prolific Grant Writer and owner of Bloom Grant Consulting; and Amy Tipton, creative powerhouse and owner of Slip Gallery in Seattle. These women have greatly inspired me in my journey to business ownership as a creative. From exchanging ideas and sharing their unique experiences as business owners to listening to my growing pains as a new business owner, their insights, recommendations, and support gave me the courage I needed to take my business from conception to action.

Website: www.aisteryecreative.com

Instagram: @aiste.rye.art

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/aiste-rye

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