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.

Margoth Barrera

I pursued a creative career because, honestly, I don’t think I ever had a choice. Creativity has always been a part of who I am and how I operate through life. It’s been an integral part of my identity. I’ve never been able to comprehend how anyone can be bored, when you have your imagination as a resource. From a young age, I found that creativity provided a space to explore and understand the world around me in a way that nothing else could. As a child, I carried a notepad everywhere I went – I was always drawing or writing short stories. I constantly immersed myself in books, losing myself in a world of imagination. Read More>>

Gael Kuni

Ever since I was a little kid I knew that I loved arts. When I was three or four years old my mom would take me to Tlaquepaque in my home state Jalisco, where traditional mariachi bands always performed and I loved to jump on stage with them to sing and play my little toy guitar. Later on as I grew up, I remember that every time I went to the movie theater to watch some movies, I loved coming back home and quickly look for the behind the scenes of how they made the film. And I ended up liking the behind the scenes footage even more than the actual movie, at that moment I realized that filmmaking and arts were something that I loved, and something I enjoyed doing. Read More>>

Maizy Zenger

Like many people leaving high school, I struggled with finding my path in life. Despite my lifelong gravitational pull towards art in all its forms, I was silly enough to be caught up in the idea that a career in it simply wasn’t feasible, that it was too grand for me; when I decided to apply to the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts I had already applied to every single other choice of mine as a Biology or Environmental Sciences major. Knowing my odds, Read More>>

Victoria Marinucci

I think the artistic / creative career pursued me. I’ve always been creative and my favorite subject in school was writing; however, I always tried to go the technology and business route because I thought “creatives didn’t make money.”

I went to school for marketing because I thought that would be more practical than journalism or an art degree. But in all my internships, I felt so out of place. I had multiple mentors and bosses tell me that I was very creative and to try to go more in that direction and that maybe what I wanted to do just wasn’t invented as a career yet. I think about this all the time. Read More>>

Landon Brittain

I sort of fell into it. Growing up in Medicine Lodge, Kansas—where I was born on January 15, 1982—I was an avid Marvel Comics fan and collector. That early fascination with superheroes drove me to pursue competitive bodybuilding and aim for physical goals most people never imagined. But at 6’5″ tall, I realized pushing my body to peak competitive levels could be dangerous to my health. After moving to Los Angeles, I shifted my focus to something more financially and mentally productive and started my home restoration company, Destination Restoration. However, because of my physique (muscular and tall), friends in Hollywood encouraged me to try acting. That blend of physical presence and creativity created a perfect storm, and I soon found myself on theatrical sets, including superhero projects that allowed me to bring my childhood dreams to life. Read More>>

Jadis Camila

I pursued an artistic and creative career because storytelling through music has always felt like my truest form of expression. From the time I wrote my first songs as a child, I realized that music gave me a way to make sense of the world — to turn emotions and experiences into something beautiful and relatable.
Ever since I started writing songs, I felt an unstoppable need to give life to the stories unraveling in my mind — stories that could move people’s hearts, inspire them, and make them feel seen. Read More>>

Emma Rose – Iamemma

I started singing when I was just six years old. Music has always been a safe space for me—a place where I can truly express myself. As I grew up, I began vocal training and immersed myself in musical theater. In high school, I joined Powerhouse Show Choir, which was inspired by Glee, and traveled across the country performing. One of the most memorable moments in my journey was performing a major solo at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Read More>>

Timothy Suh

I originally started drawing and painting early in my art career. I went to an after-school program, which became a nice little break between school and tutoring. It was my mom actually who pushed me to try it! But, after going to the Art Center of College in Design with a focus on illustration, I began to hate it. I did not want to draw and slowly realized illustration wasnt for me. So I left. I tried various things, but I wanted to do art. I dabbled in graphic design, fashion, and sculpture until I finally landed on photography. It was horrible, but I enjoyed it. It didn’t feel like learning; I would play with it, make many new friends, and even get a job! That’s when I decided to return to school for it and dive in. Read More>>

Sally Thornton

My artistic career began as a reaction. I was frustrated at the end of a long career in the film industry where I was working in art departments as a set designer. I felt dismissed, underrepresented, and ghosted. I wanted to take control over my time, my space, and my opinions. Sculpting gave me a way to move forward in such a positive way. Once I started sculpting, there was no turning back. I first had ideas about pieces I wanted to sculpt, then more ideas followed. I eventually needed a proper room of my own, and my art practice grew as I gave it time and space. I am still following where it leads me. And that feels important. It has been a long time coming–that important feeling. An art practice is both a sturdy solid anchor, and an ephemeral vapor. I have learned to let it guide me in both states. It is such a magical thing. Read More>>

Yvonne Jongeling

Blame it on nail polish. As a kid, I traded in bottles at Lou’s liquor store just to buy every shade at Zody’s, covering everything from Barbies to transistor radios in sparkly color. My Dutch parents were baffled but supportive, and my high school art teacher, Dixie, helped me see that art wasn’t just a passion—it was a path. Earning my Master’s in Art at Cal State Long Beach, I’ve since explored every medium imaginable, from sculpting waffles onto canvas to reworking pop culture in acrylics, constantly pushing creative boundaries. Read More>>

Eduardo Valencia

I pursued an artistic career to honor culture, tell stories, and create spaces for my community to gather, celebrate, and heal. Growing up in San Bernardino, my family’s migration journey and deep love for music led me to explore both traditional and contemporary sounds, shaping my identity as an artist. Through drumming, organizing events, and teaching, I found a way to connect with people, preserve cultural traditions, and provide meaningful experiences. Art became my way of giving back—bridging cultures, fostering community, and inspiring others through music and storytelling. More than a career, it became a way of life—a form of resistance against cultural hegemony and a celebration of the rich diversity within my community. Read More>>

Linda Wooters

I really can’t remember a time when creating art was not a part of my life. After the tragic death of my mother when i was age of five, drawing became my refuge. I spent hours lost in sketching images of things around me. When I went off to college, I didn’t I intended to go into a creative field, but once I took my first art class I was hooked. Read More>>

Daniel Adams

I’ve wanted to be a musician since I was a little boy. I grew up in a musical family, so it was just part of my DNA. Once I got a taste of the joy of being an artist and the happiness you can bring to other people, I knew it was all I wanted to do. Once I got enough reps, performances and competitions under my belt, I started thinking I could really do this for a living. Aside from fortune and fame, it was the one profession that took me and those around me to a state of pure happiness. Read More>>

Paola Salvador

Art has always been something I’ve felt connected with since I was young. When I think about where it all started, I instantly travel back to when I was 5 years old and I was the lead in a school play “Little Red Riding Hood”. It was such a fun experience. I was so little and yet I found such a joy in acting.
During my life I’ve dived into different forms of art, like dancing. I took Flamenco lessons for around 8 years. Or jazz for a year. And some hip hop classes for a couple months. Read More>>

Mady Mcgraw

I know it sounds like a cliche to say that I had no other choice, but it was just that. This industry is really tough, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who doesn’t dream about it with both wonder and an unbreakable reverence. When I was small, music was one of the things to bring me out of my shell. I was unstoppable when I sang, fearless when I was onstage. It didn’t matter what was going on at home or at school, I knew that I could escape into those stories. It is my main goal to help others find that same escape by watching and/or listening to me at my most joyful. If I can take someone away from their struggles and worries for two hours, or even two minutes, I will consider my purpose divinely fulfilled. Read More>>

Catherine Just

I pursued an artistic career because it offered the most authentic expression of who I am and what I want to contribute during my time here on the planet. My journey began in high school when, despite struggling with a meth addiction, my art teacher recognized something in me that I couldn’t see in myself. That moment of being truly seen changed everything. Read More>>

Cyrus Talaiefar

Music has always been the answer for me. I have been surrounded by music since I was a kid thanks to my mom and dad who would play their favorite artists like The Beatles and Pink Floyd. We had a boombox that could play cassettes and CD’s growing up, so I would always play something whenever I could. I learned to play the alto saxophone in the second grade, and my appreciation of music grew even more after learning different jazz pieces. I picked up the guitar after Guitar Hero came out and never put it down. Being in multiple bands as a guitarist and bass player has been wildly influential to my overall taste as well. On top of that, being in the electronic music scene and DJing house music has been incredible as well. Music has helped me through so many different times in my life and lead me to where I am now, and I love contributing anything to the musical canvas of the world. Read More>>

Dauriya Aizakhmetova

My journey into the artistic and creative world has been deeply personal and fulfilling, shaped by my passion for fashion, education, and empowering others. As the founder of the School of Couture, my career results from years of dedication to teaching, inspiring and preparing the next generation of designers for the exciting and challenging world of fashion. Read More>>

Rania Anjum

Growing up, I rarely ever saw anyone who really looked liked me on magazine covers, billboards or cast in leading roles in film and tv. It always left me feeling like I didn’t fit into any of the beauty standards that were highlighted at the time. To not feel represented is a very isolating feeling. I wanted to use photography to highlight and work with different identities around me. Being able to pursue an artistic career has been one of the most challenging yet liberating experiences. Read More>>

Jeremy Grant

When I was a teenager I worked on an independent movie that filmed close by to my hometown in North Carolina. I didn’t know much about movies back then other than there were actors and directors. When on set, I was enthralled by something else – the crew…. Read More>>

Andrew Burgess

Funny story, but I actually have a bachelor’s degree in physics from Purdue University. In college I was double majoring in physics and planetary science, planning to go to graduate school when I ‘randomly’ made the decision. My senior year I had become a Resident Assistant. I spent a lot of time making the door decorations and just had -too much- fun with it. I really, really enjoyed it. This contrasted the research I was doing in physics at the time on the 3rd basement floor of the physics building. I also was making videos for fun as well, and I had a friend that started blowing up on social media. Read More>>

Mah

I believe association is huge especially when first pursing a creative passion. Most of the closest people around me were involved in either music or other similar creative industries. For me, I had always been drawn to music my whole life, from playing guitar in my younger years, to playing saxophone in the jazz band, it was always a huge natural love for the creation and performance of music. Being around people doing something I naturally loved doing made me start taking it serious without even thinking about it. Read More>>

Shane Yang

My life has been about dressing up, in other words, fashion, since I came to this country in 2017. It started out as an interest and quickly became a lifestyle. When I gained enough knowledge about this industry and work of art, I realized it might be the only career I had passion in pursuing. After getting some recognition in this field, I was more certain. Read More>>

Trevor Legg

To put it simply – it is what I was created to do. It’s how I am wired. I couldn’t fathom doing the same thing every week for decades, like most do. I was encouraged early on to keep creating. Friends and family made it seem like I had a special talent. But no one believed in me more than my dad—he saw my potential long before I did. He is the reason I’m doing what I’m doing today. If I could make him cry after he watched one of my wedding films, that was a green light to keep creating. Read More>>

Jp Siruno

In short, it’s fun. When I was growing up with my three siblings, we often had to entertain ourselves, and you can only play the same VHS tape so many times. We were always a creative bunch, so we would create our own stories, art, and even short films once Window’s Movie Maker was introduced to our lives. Every year we would have a “Christmas Concert” in the living room where we would sing Christmas classics to a story we had come up with on our own, sort of like a silly jukebox musical, and end it by gifting a storybook we wrote and illustrated to our parents. Read More>>

Jean Tariech

I started music at the age of 5, playing classical piano. I wasn’t the best in school, but I was a good musician. So, I decided to pursue this career. I kept working on music because I faced more difficulties than others, especially when it came to expressing myself. Music became my way of communicating.

That’s why I chose this artistic path—because it allows me to express myself in a way that words cannot. Since I’m an energetic person who loves power, strength, and courage, I express those emotions through epic orchestral music, which I’m particularly passionate about. Read More>>

Cristian Guerrero

I am an artist by accident. Let me explain. I started very young– TV/Film/Commercials/Theater/Acting Teaching Artist and now a writer for Stage/TV. I didn’t come from a “industry” family or anyone in my immediate circle who was previously was an artist. What I came from was a family that supported me from the beginning in realizing I was never going to be a sports player or an engineer, or doctor– I was a kid who was glued to anything regarding TV, Films and Broadway (Yes TV/Books/Cassettes/CDS/Scripts/You tube Recordings/Books) anything regarding the arts– Read More>>

Bridget Callahan

I have always been an artist. I was a theater kid in high school and was always taking extra art classes. I started college at The Hartt School for Acting and later transferred to Loyola Marymount University for Acting as well. Theater and screen acting have always been huge passions of mine. When I moved to LA I knew I wanted to get involved in the artist community here. I quickly started an artist networking club at LMU called The Outlet and shortly after came up with the idea for Two Twins. Read More>>

Joy De Rose

I pursued a creative career because I felt a deep calling to express myself in a way that went beyond the logical and analytical aspects of my past career in dermatology. While I was fascinated by the intricacies of the human body and scientific precision, I found that there was something missing—the ability to convey the deeper, intangible parts of the human experience. Music and multimedia art gave me the freedom to explore and communicate emotions, Read More>>

Olivia Wander

Since I was very young, I’ve had a strong love and admiration for art and film. I was born and raised in Portland, OR, a place known for “Keeping it Weird”. My family and I had our local places, specifically the Roseway Theater where we could get discounted snacks and $8 movie tickets. It’s where I have so many fond memories of seeing monthly movie releases with friends and family, which grew my love and excitement for films. It was my dad who taught me how to draw, which got me into taking art classes from the age of six until I graduated highschool. This had me attending college as an art major until I decided otherwise. Read More>>

Kid Hyim

I always knew I was different and naturally being creative was for me. I knew I wasn’t okay with the normality of earning a living and that I had to do something much bigger. Since 2014 I tried many different ways of being a creative till I finally evolved on to my current path a couple years ago. It wasn’t until 2020 when I really chose to make music my career. Music has always been apart of my life but it wasn’t until then I felt it was ready to do it and put my all into it. Though it is challenging I don’t regret making this decision in the least. Read More>>

Tramelle Stroman

For me, creativity was never a choice; it was a calling. Growing up as the youngest of six, movies were more than just entertainment in our household. They were a tradition. Watching films like Rocky, The Last Dragon, and Back to the Future, along with classic TV shows like Martin, wasn’t just about the action or the spectacle. It was about the emotion. The way those films and shows made me feel excited, inspired, and sometimes even devastated made me realize I wanted to be part of that, whether behind the camera or in front of it. Read More>>

Azurah Hays

I’ve pursued a creative career, because I’ve found that it’s the only career where I’m guaranteed my individuality. Being an artist, I find that I’m not expected to confine myself into a box that causes me to shrink myself or to be palatable for a specific audience. I can be Azurah, and Azurah is good enough. Read More>>

Jakub Zegzulka

I never thought of myself as creative or artistic, and neither did anyone else. In school, I was always the worst in art classes, and people told me I wasn’t creative. I was the tech guy, which is what originally led me to design. I started with Minecraft, then moved on to websites, logos, and eventually UI/UX. But even then, I didn’t see myself as an artist. Read More>>

Kristin Dangl

I don’t think I had any choice. I think it was preordained. I was always playing dress up and making clothes. I got a little miniature sewing machine when I was about 5. I colored and drew. I liked paper dolls and making my own 3D things like purses and their contents. My grand mother taught me how to embroider very young. I studied dance. I started teaching adult beginning ballet when I was 16. In high school I took advanced art classes and studied calligraphy. Read More>>

Diya Joseph

Growing up, I never considered a creative career to be a feasible one. I was raised in Vellore, India, and most of my friends were on track to be doctors. Since probably 7th grade, all my peers worked 24/7 with the goal of getting into a medical college as soon as they graduated.
I drew for fun when I was at home, but at school all my hours were spent wrangling biochemistry. Around 10th grade, I realized that no one my age was actually still interested in animated movies the way I was, and I wondered if maybe there was a way I could work in animation. I started to put in the bare minimum for my schoolwork, and devoted all my free time to making a portfolio to get into art school in the US. Read More>>

Binta Diallo

My journey into an artistic and creative career was profoundly influenced by my background in education, especially through the Reggio Emilia approach. This philosophy, which views creativity as essential to learning and values the expressive, collaborative nature of art, inspired me to see artistic practice not just as a means of self-expression but as a powerful tool for exploration and transformation. Witnessing how the environment could act as a “third teacher” and how creative processes empower learners, I was drawn to a career where I could harness the inherent creativity within every individual, encouraging innovative thinking and a deeper connection with the world around us. Read More>>

Simeon Ruiz P. Narcis

I pursued a creative career because this is all I know. I can best communicate my feelings by expressing myself in the films and music I produce. It is a privilege to be a creative person, and my goal is to help foster other minority creatives. My entertainment company, WeBePeoples, is all about community and representation in the creative field. If I don’t see more minorities in the spotlight in the entertainment space, then I’ve failed as an artist and need to do more. The world is designed for you to be insecure, stay true to yourself. Read More>>

Weiming Wang

Storytelling has always been my way of understanding the world, shaping emotions, and offering new perspectives. I was drawn to filmmaking because of its ability to create immersive experiences and transport audiences into different realities. However, I’ve always been interested in pushing boundaries—both visually and narratively. That’s why I embraced vertical filmmaking, a format that was initially dismissed but has since proven to be a powerful medium for storytelling in today’s mobile-driven world. For me, creativity isn’t just about making films—it’s about constantly evolving, challenging conventions, and finding new ways to engage audiences. Read More>>

Juliana Lua

As a child, I was naturally drawn to physical creative activities such as painting, dancing, singing, designing, and making. In my teenage years, my fascination shifted to the designed world around me – objects like chairs and everyday products that shape our lives. This deeply influenced my appreciation for the power of design. Read More>>