Meet Adelina Lopez | Upcoming Artist and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adelina Lopez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adelina, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Being 16 years old, the reason why I decided to pursue an artistic career is because of my overall love and interest for drawing. Making art is something I have always loved doing ever since I was little, so being able to pursue a career out of it is an absolute dream come true!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Even though I am very proud of being in the art community, there are a few traits that set me apart from other artists. I am only 16 years old and I am still in highschool, I have a long way to go until I can achieve my dream of becoming a professional artist. I am also a part of the LGBTQIA+ community and of the Latinx community as well, all of these traits define me as an artist and I am very proud of them all. Due to some of these traits though, I have faced some challenges, mostly due to how young I am, other people don’t take me as seriously as they would professional artists. There have been many times where their comments have made me sit down and rethink if this is what I wanted to do, if they were right and I was too young and dumb to have my heart set on a career so risky. Though in the end due to the help and support of my family and friends, along with the very loving art community Kansas City has, I always am put back on track happier and more determined than ever. Through my time spent with the art community in my city, I have learned some very important lessons, the most important being don’t be afraid to take risks as it may open new opportunities in the end and you’re never too young to start working on something you are truly passionate about. What I want the world to know through my story is that no matter your age, what you look like or what you are doing right now, you should never be afraid to share your passions with the world, as every new passion someone shares is a gift that can truly blossom into something magnificent.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Even though Kansas City Missouri is a smaller city than others in neighboring states, it truly is packed with tons of inspiring and creative places that have inspired me and my artwork! Some of the places I visit frequently with my friends and family are the River Market and West Bottoms. Both of the locations are usually bustling with people and are perfect places to see both old architecture and shop at many small businesses founded in the area! Along with the hustle and bustle of the West Bottoms and River Market, there are also very relaxing places as well to visit, one of them being the city’s pride and joy, the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. Here thousands of paintings are held with new exhibitions and events coming in frequently, making every visit unique and special. I personally love going and seeing the Sculpture Garden any chance I get, as no matter what time of day it is, the statues always look breathtakingly beautiful. When the first Friday of the month rolls around though, I try to go and support small businesses in local First Friday events. I love to go and see the many art fairs that pop up around the city, especially the ones that pop up around the Crossroads art district as not only do I meet the coolest and kindest people down there, but I also am able to go and see new murals and live paintings that are done all around the district, truly breathing life and spreading creativity all around the city. I can happily say I am very thankful to be living in such a creative and art loving city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There have been so many organizations that have helped me through my artistic journey, some of the organizations that have supported me throughout this time are Mattie Rhodes, the Latino Arts Foundation, and Art Garden KC. When I started my adventure into pursuing art as my career, Mattie Rhodes was there with open arms, ready to help me however they could. I was able to participate in their galleries starting at age 12 and have been participating in their pop up events ever since. Later on I had the opportunity to meet Deanna Munoz, head of the Latino Arts Foundation, and through her I was able to truly prosper and spread my artwork to the whole community, selling at Kansas City Chiefs and Royals events and even being able to get an interview on KSHB with her in honor of Hispanic Heritage month in 2021. More recently, I was able to make a connection with Art Garden KC and start selling at their pop ups and truly I couldn’t be more thankful for the incredible community they have grown. I have met so many loving friends and have the amazing opportunity to become a part of a beautiful and ever growing vendor family. I could never be able to thank all of these outstanding organizations for truly taking me in and helping me grow.

Website: https://linktr.ee/Lopezart2006

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lopezart2006/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LopezArt2006

Other: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LopezArt2006?ref=search_shop_redirect Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lopezart2006