Where you grew up and your background can often have surprising effects on our lives and careers. We’ve asked folks from the community to tell us about how their background has affected them.

Sungyeon Kim

I am a performance artist from Seoul, South Korea, currently based in London. I was born and raised in Seoul, and I have also studied in the Czech Republic and the UK. This history of moving across different countries and cultures has played a crucial role in shaping who I am today and has significantly influenced my artistic practice. Read More>>

DEMETRIO

I’m a Brazilian-American artist from Orlando, Florida. I was raised by immigrant parents who came to the U.S. with just one suitcase between them and my brother. Music has been part of my life from the beginning. Growing up, I played in jazz bands, which influenced the elements of bossa nova and jazz in my music. My background shapes how I tell stories and how I see hope, resilience, and where I come from. Read More>>

Simran Sawhney

I grew up in India—a place where contradiction is its own kind of rhythm. One moment you’re surrounded by sound, movement, life bursting at the seams—and the next, you’re watching someone sit in silence so profound it says more than words ever could. That tension between noise and stillness—that’s where my eye was trained. Read More>>

Max Bennett

I was born in Brisbane, Australia, and my upbringing was centered around structure and discipline. I originally studied law, which was a safe path, but I felt unfulfilled. Art wasn’t part of my plan until I created a piece for my mother’s birthday when I was 17 —it changed everything. I realized I wanted to create, and within a few years, I had built a career that led me to Paris and the US, collaborating with some of the most respected figures in the creative world . That shift—from a traditional path to an unconventional one—taught me the importance of trusting my instincts. Read More>>

Bree Solomon

Although I’ve spent the last 22 years in Venice, California, my heart and creative roots come from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Growing up there, art wasn’t just something you saw in galleries, it was woven into daily life. Read More>>

Dan Turner

I am originally from Winnipeg, Canada. I grew up dirt poor and was always told I would never succeed in anything. I learned that hard work absolutely pays off. I also learned not to listen to negative people and put yourself into a winning environment. Read More>>

Laura Rocha

I was born in Mexico City but raised in the US. My parents came to this country when I was just an infant, and I never take their bravery for granted. At only 18 years old with two babies, they left their hometown for a country full of opportunity and became entrepreneurs despite all the challenges. Read More>>

Kate Cohen

I grew up outside Cleveland Ohio in a town called Lakewood. At 19 I entered a five year course at The Cleveland Institute of Art. It is a private art school which started in 1882. It belongs to of the Independent Colleges of Art. Read More>>

Marcie Smolin

I am a Los Angeles native. Born and raised in L.A. Being that I grew up right in the middle of all things show biz I became a child actor. I basically worked in all areas of the business, in front of an behind the camera. From child actor, to stand up comic, to series regular to writer/director. Read Morre>>

Odalis Rojas

This is a constant debate with my cousins who grew up in Brooklyn and Queens. I was born in the Lower East side of New York City, lived in Queens until I was 6 and then migrated to Jersey and basically moved around frequently until settling into a sweet little suburb. Read More>>

Peter Kim

I was born in South Korea and immigrated to the United States when I was eight years old. Growing up in Southern California during the ’90s, I was often one of the only Asian kids in my elementary school. Read More>>

Daniel Carbone

I was born and raised on Long Island, New York. Growing up I don’t think there was a time I wasn’t drawing or creating art. I would always be sketching and drawing all throughout the day any time anywhere, be it in illustration pads, my school notebooks or on the back of my math tests I would always be cooking up something to draw. Read More>>

Tenelle Winmore

I’m from north St. Louis. Growing up on the northside definitely gave me a hunger to make a righteous impact on my city. I want to show the best part of being a St. Louisan and proud black man. Read More>>

Joe Fondarella

I’m from Southern California, but my family is originally from New York—loud, passionate, and rooted in old-school Italian values. Food was always at the center of everything. Sunday dinners were sacred—homemade pasta, sauce simmering all day, and stories flying across the table. Read More>>

Amara Crevatin

I was born in Spain, but both of my parents are from Argentina, so I hold dual nationality and have always felt deeply connected to both cultures. Throughout my childhood, I moved from country to country every 3 to 5 years due to my dad’s job. Read More>>

Marcus Chan

I was born and raised in Hong Kong and only moved to the US in my early thirties to go to the UCLA film school, after spending a decade as a corporate lawyer. Read More>>

Alondra

I’m from Palmdale, CA—part of the Antelope Valley. Growing up in a low-income household without academic guidance, I relied on my own determination to navigate my education. Read More>>

Nick Bertocchini

I’m from Stockton, California. My journey into photography started in an unexpected way – just before deploying to Afghanistan while in the Marine Corps, I picked up an ugly little orange colored “point-and-shoot” camera. Read More>>

Anthony Lyons

I’m from Los Angeles, California. Growing up in LA, I was surrounded by culture, creativity, and contrast. The city showed me both the beauty and the struggle—how to dream big but also how to survive when things get tough. Read More>>

KRISHNA GANERIWAL

I’m originally from India—raised in a family that didn’t have a background in engineering or technology. Despite that, my upbringing was rooted in curiosity, persistence, and a strong belief in the power of education. Those values became foundational to how I approach life and work today. Read More>>