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.

Eilianna Quintero | Artist

We live in a world of constant evolution, our various technologies have both advanced us, and deprived us of one of the most important parts of being Human, that is Expression through physical art. Read more>>

Melissa Snow | Executive Director

I was raised in an artistic and creative family. My father was a choreographer for television and taught dance and my mother was an artist. Through my upbringing I learned that creative expression was vital to mental development and health. I learned to think outside of the box, I used creative expression to work through difficult situations and felt the passion that music and dance brought me. Read more>>

Jessi Taylor | Tattoo Artist

I chose an artistic career path when I was very young, I always knew I wanted to create art of some kind and I began in fashion design, which led to graphic design, and eventually to tattooing. I grew up in a family full of artists of different mediums, my maternal Grandmother was a painter, my Grandfather was a musician, and that carried on to my brother, cousins, and myself! We all feel it’s in our blood to express ourselves creatively so it was a natural path I knew I would take. Aside from tattooing, I am working on my first art exhibit for 2025 with pieces made from fibers and natural materials and I intend to continue to build my career in that direction. Read more>>

Dr. Pilo Renaissance | Educator and Content Creator

The reason I decided to pursue a creative career as a Content Creator is due to the lack of quality content being displayed currently in the media. Now more than ever there is a need for truth that our consumers are needing to hear. Read more>>

Patricia Sannit | visual artist, working across media; community collaborator; art activist

Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career? I am a curious person and I’d like to make things. I like to problem solve, explore ideas, and learn new things. Of all the fields that I have pursued, making art in my studio means that every day is a new exploration, where there are new skills to develop and ideas to research. I also like the idea of engagement and collaboration; the artist and the viewer are in collaboration with each other the maker and the user or within collaboration with each other. My work is not finished until it is seen and experienced by others. Read more>>

Dana Kamberg | Artist & Adjunct Professor

I have always found articulating the depth and nuances of my feelings through words to be profoundly challenging and restricting, painting just happened to become the solution for processing my world in a way that words could not. In the same way, one might call upon a friend for encouragement and support, I have similarly turned to narrative portraiture. Through my art, I can open up my inner dialogue to a broader audience, inviting them to partake in the intimacy of this expressive practice. Read more>>

Madison Fisher | Artist and Creator

I have always loved creating and being an artist, but what made me want to pursue a creative career was when I noticed how much joy it brought to the people around me. Several years ago, I couldn’t decide on gifts to give my family during special occasions, so I decided to just hand make their gifts instead. I spent a lot of time making things that would be meaningful to each person. Everytime I gave someone a product I made, they would always light up and say “you made that?” That is my favorite thing. Their excitement of not only having something new, but something I put time and effort into made me want to keep creating. Read more>>