Meet Andrew Arias | Photographer

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

Hi Andrew, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
The reason I’m in the artistic field is because it all fell into my lap, Growing up in Wilmington (WILMAS) i was exposed to all the different scenes Gangs, Graffiti, Lowrider’s, palm trees and the gritty streets. Being a young kid with no dream and really seeing and exploring everything made me want to document it all. It started with my flip phone to high school when I took photo class and upgraded to 35MM film ever since then it’s been a crazy journey in life. It allowed me to travel to new places, meet fellow artist’s who I can call my homies and real ass mothafuckas who never fake the funk when it comes to being a REAL artist. I came from shooting pictures for myself and show the homies to now showing the whole world to the point where my work has traveled the World ! Not just through social media but physically in art shows people walking into a show and looking at my work and saying “daaam this is dope” from an unknown kid to now wherever I go I get recognized “Yoo your slum vision ?! I follow your work mad dope !” I never do it for money or “fame” but to know that your work speaks volumes on so many levels by inspiring people or by simply them saying they look forward to more “Art” that I put out. Shit means a lot.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a full on photographer but I also do other forms of art such as writing, drawing and anything That is intriguing to me. I don’t like to separate myself from other artist because we are all the same but I do have my own style. I document my life so everything I have seen or been around I document it because I got that privilege to do it. When I’m around homies they pose throw up the sets and show off cuetes and I don’t gotta ask them, where someone else would go and ask if they can do it. When the homies paint i document it and take the same risk of being caught like them because I put myself out there with them. Not everything is nice and easy there’s always consequences and backlash at times but you gotta stand pick your head up and plant your feet on the ground and don’t let it bring you down or discourage you. I wanna leave my mark in the world with my work let it speak for itself and for my presence a big foo with a modelo In one hand a camera in the other always clowning and laughing.

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.
If my homies/homegirls are visiting from a different state or country ima Forshure take them around all of LA from the Coast to some nicr views of LA, grab a bite to eat at some taco spot or something never know where to go because there’s so many options. But you gotta remember know whwre you are and where you are going because LA ain’t all palm trees and sunshine the deeper you go the grimey it gets.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wanna dedicate all I do to my family especially my Grandparents and my mother they always have supported me and encouraged me no matter what it was. All my work I put out is for WILMAS THE HART OF THE HARBOR (Harbor Area). And to all my Down ass homies/Homegirls in the Art field from the harbor area to LA to all the way across the country and world I got homies everywhere y’all know who tf y’all are ! And to all the homies/family Resting in Peace. Much love to everyone who supports my work and everything I do I recognize all of you.

Instagram: Slum_visions

Other: I got something crazy in the works so stay tuned..