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.

Gabriel Moneke | Artist & Designer

As a child, I recall being heavily influenced by iconic characters with a sense of duty or thirst for adventure. I found art as a means to express and record the ideas that bubbled up from within. What initially started as Lucid-dreaming on paper as an escape from reality grew into a passion for art and story telling, tools I use to share my observations with the world. I believe the role of an artist is to observe the society, learn without bias and create art that invokes deep thought or a collective sense of identity. Read more>>

Linda Guenste | Fine Artist

I don’t come from a family of creatives, but my best friends mother was an artist and she was a big influence on me growing up. When it was time to apply to colleges, there was no question about it, I was going to pursue a career in the arts. Read more>>

Jacob Stoll | Entrepreneur

As far back as I can remember, I’ve always been creative. Art has always been a part of my life. It is never forced. I was in AP Art during high school and after the death of a very close friend, art became my escape. I started with drawing and painting, learning different styles and techniques: shading, texture, color pallets, etc. I had friends that were into DJing and remixing songs during my teenage years and I was always very into music growing up. This ultimately led me to pursing a career in audio engineer after high school. I graduated from Full Sail University in 2016 with a Bachelors of Science in Recording Arts and have been involved in the audio and cinematography space since. Today, I reside in Orlando, FL working as Studio Manager at Iconic Vision Studios – excited to see what the future holds! Read more>>

Maria-Alejandra Icaza Paredes | Designer & Architect

From a young age, I was captivated by the power of art and design to shape the world around me. Growing up in an environment where creativity was nurtured I gained a deep appreciation for artistic expression. I found myself drawn to the potential of design to not only enhance aesthetic experiences but also to solve practical problems and improve the way we interact with our environment; I am driven by a profound desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I believe that through innovative design, I can contribute to creating spaces, objects, and experiences that are not only visually appealing but also meaningful and enriching. Ultimately, pursuing a creative career allows me to channel my passion, curiosity, and creativity into a profession that not only fulfills me personally but also allows me to contribute to the greater good by shaping a more beautiful, functional, and harmonious world for everyone. Read more>>

TC Silk | Rapper, Producer, Musician

I am pursuing an artistic career because I feel as though it allows me to do everything I love to do at once. I love making music, but I also love marketing, photography, and videography. As a musician, I get to be the captain of my own ship and make my own decisions, and it feels very liberating after working in corporate. Finally, I am able to express everything that I want to express and be the one who approves it. Read more>>

Gabriela Aleksova | Photographer

I have never asked myself that question. I can go on and on about the motivation behind each and every project I’ve worked on, but I have never wondered *why* I became an artist in the first place. Read more>>