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.

Leef Parks | Independent Film Maker & Photographer

I honestly just can’t see myself doing anything else and plus the freedom. It’s risky but all the most amazing things in my career/life have been tied to taking a risk or two. I really love what I do and I love helping people. I’m just living in it right now and it comes with it’s peaks and valleys but getting to be creative for a living is undeniably one of the coolest things that I get to do. This creative career path definitely chose me and then eventually I can around. Read more>>

Sophia Guerrero | Aspiring Model & Actress

Growing up, I always loved to express myself through the arts. Dance and video production were a big part of my life in school and I looked forward to it everyday. I knew I wanted to pursue a creative career so I would get to see the world in a unique way and follow my many passions. Read more>>

ELIDEA | Contemporary artist

I am contemporary Italian artist. I moved to Miami in 2012 . Creativity has always been very important, an instinctive part of my life aso since the beginning of my studies. At the age of 19 I already knew what my path was and I saw no other alternative if not to be creative. Upon finishing my studies at the European Design Institute in Milan, I began working as a graphic designer with several studios in Milan. Read more>>

Roxana Karissa | Healer/ Entrepreneur/ Model

Creativity has always been part of my life, ever since I was a young child. It’s always been my outlet where I feel free and I get to express myself to the world. I’ve always known I was meant to be someone who created change and inspire others to do the same. Through my artistic and creative ways I’ve been able to do that. Read more>>

Karrah Davis | Visual Artist and art educator

I believe I was sent on earth to create. It was a difficult choice of course given that I was steering away from the traditional beliefs of becoming a doctor, nurse or soldier. I just didn’t see myself doing anything outside of arts and when I saw that others appreciated my passion and would invest in my work that confirmed that my career path will continue to grow in the creative realm. Read more>>

Yuan-Wen WANG | Visual artist

This is the question that I’ve been asking to myself all the time. I used to be really convinced that I want to be an artist, any kind of artist with no reasons. It’s just like a magic, creating from nothing to something. I enjoy the process, and I feel connected to innerself. My mother told me that she often found me extremely concentrating on drawing or creating since I was three. Read more>>

Gaëlle Hintzy-Marcel | Sculptor

Because I am hypersensitive, enthusiastically manual and because I got the opportunity to dedicate myself to sculpture. Yes, I am hypersensitive and have ideas popping up all the time. I learned over the years to channel my thoughts and feelings, and have my hands transform them into art. Read more>>

O’CEAN HILL | Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Podcaster, Screeenwriter

For me its the need to create, it’s the process of having an idea in your head and working hard to give it life & making it a reality. Read more>>

Hela Munčić | Wedding & Contemporary Photographer

Ever since I was a child I was surrounded by art. My grandmother was an art teacher so there was that type of creativity and later on there was always a camera lying around. I would take pictures of anything – nature, my friends, architecture. Now I am a wedding photographer but I still like to explore other types of photography like long and double exposition. Along the way hobby turned into passion and then into a career. Read more>>