Why they do what they do

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.

Ying Han

I pursued an artistic and creative career because storytelling has always been a part of my life. As a child, I loved sharing the stories my mom told me, carefully choosing the right time and setting to captivate my friends. This passion for storytelling eventually found its way into art, starting with painting characters on rocks with my dad and marveling at how light transformed them. Over time, I realized that graphic design was a powerful medium for storytelling, allowing me to communicate ideas clearly and creatively to diverse audiences. Read more>> 

Eduardo Yepis Acosta

To be honest I dunno. It’s difficult to have a simple answer but I genuinely like making people laugh, it’s one of the best feelings. I’ve always wanted to express myself in different ways that a normal 9-5 wouldn’t let me do. It’s also a very scary thing, and I like that. I like not knowing what’s going to happen next, it kinda motivates me. Read more>>

Tony Ung

My decision to choose an artistic career doesn’t feel like a conscious career decision, but rather a life pursuit that I’ve been fortunate enough to make a living from. I think for a lot of artists, expressing themselves creatively comes naturally and when the art you produce is validated by others, it really lights a fire within you to continue pursuing it. Read more>>

Tara Ruggerio-Popov

I grew up in a very creative household. My father is a contractor who would redesign homes that were basically falling down and make them into show pieces. My mother was a dancer and dance instructor with her own successful dancing school. I took art lessons, and danced for as long as I can remember and just felt like I fit in as a creative. I don’t remember not knowing the theory of color and the color wheel. Read more>>

Oltree Hui

The question of why I chose to pursue a career in art and design first requires a reflection on the grammar of desire itself—what drives me to shift from one mode of creation to another. My journey began in the realms of oil painting and performance art, media rich with potential for confrontation and revelation, particularly in the context of political and social engagement. Yet, over time, I perceived a certain ambiguity in expression: while it liberated my voice, it did not necessarily establish a genuine connection with others. Read more>>

Scott Rocco

I knew early on, as far back as my college days, that working a traditional 9-5 job would not be for me. I felt called by God to pursue the arts. I had this fire burning inside me to do so. That same flame still burns today. When I sing and perform, I feel at home. Even when I’m doing an acting project, it all feels natural. It’s a very difficult path, but you learn so much about yourself. I don’t think another career could teach me that much about who I am. The merit of growth is something truly special that I can’t find outside of the arts. Read more>>

Caitlin Alyn

I pursued the arts because it was really the only thing that could ever hold my attention. I had grown up watching my dad go to a job every morning that he didn’t enjoy and I remember thinking to myself “I never want that to happen to me.” I knew if I was going to be spending so much time of my life working, I better enjoy what I do. And I’ve always enjoyed storytelling and sharing my imagination with others. Read more>>

Yuehui Du

My journey into the creative career has been one of constant self-discovery. It started with my education in Architecture, where I realized how design could shape the world we live in. That foundation sparked my curiosity and open-mindedness toward emerging technologies, leading me to explore how they could be integrated into design. Read more>>

Lin (helen) Cheng | Filmmaker

When I think about why I chose a creative career, the answer is rooted in my desire to explore and connect with the world around me. I was born and raised in Shanghai, China, and have always been drawn to the power of stories. My path to filmmaking hasn’t been linear, but it’s been shaped by many experiences across different cultures, languages, and artistic traditions. Read more>>

Nemi Brooks | Actress, Artist, Writer, & Model

Since before I can remember, I have always been an artist. It’s the only thing I have ever dreamt of doing long-term and the only thing that has always made sense. Whether it be in the form of writing, acting, painting, singing, dancing, baking – if I am not creating, I do not feel as though I am fulfilling my sense of purpose. I truly believe that I was put on the planet to create things and tell stories that mean something. I have never felt more seen and understood than when watching a great movie or seeing a beautiful or grotesque painting for the first time. I have never felt more connected to humanity than when listening to a powerful song or reading a gut-wrenching poem. Read more>>

Luke Todd | Cinematographer

Oh man. Art is so subjective. There’s no right or wrong, per se, yet it has the power to strike a chord deep within somebody. I can look at a piece of art and feel nothing, while someone right next to me might be completely captivated in the same piece, shaped by their life experiences and views on the world. That’s pretty damn cool to me. No matter what external interests I explore, I keep coming back to that desire to create. The desire to, one day, create something that strikes that chord for someone. Read more>>

Lola Vixen | Cosmetologist x Nail Stylist

I decided to pursue a career in the artistic and creative arts early on when I was in high school because I was touched by film and videos and how the right blend of stunning sound, striking visuals and the words the actors say could strongly determine and affect our mood. The fact that a movie (or song/album) could be strong enough to impact our lives always resonated with me deeply. Read more>>

Maudi Carlile | Artist

I’ve always been creative and wanted to create for a living, but I grew up in the middle of a lot of struggle that discouraged an art career. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016 and spent a year on treatment and in bed that I had the time to sit and do the things I truly loved. I started painting at the end of 2017 and haven’t put the paint brush down since. I grew up in my mothers tattoo shop in Fresno CA and never really wanted to tattoo, the thought of someone telling me what to create was a massive turn off. In 2021 God changed my heart though, now there’s nothing more fulfilling than serving people in a way that will last them a life time. Read more>>

Dj Flossdon | World Famous Dj

I pursued Djing as a career because of my love for music. I love when a Dj a party and I see the joy of people having a great time and being free through the art of music. Read more>>

Yrcanis Collado | Makeup Artist

watching her paint, I knew I always wanted to be an artist. I’ve always drew in notebooks and loved painting with acrylics (I still do!)… what didn’t expect at that very young age that I would become a makeup artist. I was 23 and working in broadcasting at the time, which is completely creative in it’s own right. However, when I walked by a makeup school in the downtown of my hometown, it hit me like a lightening bolt of excitement and a flip of the switch that turned the lightbulb of purpose on to my heart. I said to myself, “This makes sense!” And I looked into the Beauty, Airbrush and Hairstyling classes and attended the school a couple of months later and finished with my Certification. Read more>>

Leona Sigmund | Multimedia composer

Looking back, I think music and creativity were always a part of my life, even when I wasn’t consciously considering them as a career. Growing up, I would get lost in melodies and rhythms, spending hours at the piano or experimenting with sounds. I didn’t see it as “work” or even something I could do professionally—it was just how I expressed myself. Read more>>

Mina Huynh Artis | Co-Founder & Content Producer, Artis Media Group & Professional Dancer

I started dancing at the age of 5, and it became my first introduction to creative expression. Growing up, dance wasn’t just a hobby—it was my way of expressing myself and connecting with the world in ways words couldn’t. That joy and passion led me to pursue dance professionally, moving to Los Angeles at 19 to chase my dreams. Over the past 7+ years, I’ve built a career I’m incredibly proud of, working on everything from live performances to commercials, music videos, and tours. Each experience shaped not only who I am as a person but also deepened my understanding of creativity and storytelling. Read more>>

Cosperthenomad | Artist/Producer/Dj

I don’t think I ever chose an artistic career, per se. My perspective on life has always been about pursuing my truth and following the things I’m deeply passionate about. Music, in particular, has always had a magnetic pull for me. Being able to build a career around my love for music feels incredible and, in my view, is a wonderful way to spend a life. Read more>>

Regina Panina | Singer/songwriter

I grew up in a family of musicians, so music has always been part of my everyday life. Surrounded by melodies and rhythms practically from birth, I quickly realized that music was more than just entertainment—it became a second language and a place where I could truly be myself. Over time, I understood that creating and performing music wasn’t merely a hobby but my most authentic form of self-expression. This deep sense of connection and discovery guided me toward a creative career, a path that felt entirely natural given how central music has always been in my life. Read more>>