Meet Bianca Lago | Artist & Adventure Seeker

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

Hi Bianca, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I try not to think too much about risks. That is the one thing I have learned about risk taking, if you over-think and over-analyze then often you won’t move at all. Stagnation is worse than failure. In the beginning of my career, I would say yes to any and every opportunity that came my way, some riskier than others. If an opportunity arises that seems like it could help you build, then take it! If it doesn’t work out as you imagined, then it will lead you to lessons that will enrich and further you career in a different way. I’m not saying bet your house, but if you don’t have a house, what else do you have to lose? Take the risks. Live the life. Don’t make the same mistake twice, and if you do, don’t make it three times. Learn, move forward.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I have spent the past couple of years working mostly with clients directly creating custom pieces, primarily portraits. In my free time I like to work on original pieces which tend to be bold and controversial or surreal and strange. I like to evoke a variety of emotions in the viewer, leaning heavily on humor, introspection, grief, and questioning the world as it is. When I create, my goal is to try and make sense of the world around me, I create a narrative about the information that I have taken in that can be shared with others. Sometimes the narrative is to simply sit with the feelings that the piece is bringing up for you. Those feelings could range from deep loneliness to confused humor. There are no stones left unturned.

I have gotten to where I am today, which is working as a freelance artist and studying for my MFA in San Francisco, by a lot of dedication. It has not been easy, but every step has been worth it and will continue to be. I overcome challenges by staying persistent and reminding myself of the bigger picture. I have a vision for myself, my work, and where I would like for it to go, so I try to remind myself that challenges are a part of that journey. When I feel overwhelmed, I try and step back to look at how far I have come. I remind myself that I am my own person who can gain inspiration from others but not to forget that my journey is particular to me. This helps me not be in competition with others, only with myself and to make peace with all the experiences that I needed to grow into the version I am after.

What I would want the world to know about my story is that grit, perseverance, and tenacity will get you far. You have the ability to change your life around at any point, this is your story to write, stay the course, write out your goals, and make them a reality. Be patient, be kind, help others, read books, rest, PLAY, and if you ever get an opportunity to take a nap, take a nap.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was in town to visit then we would do drinks in the Mission up and down Valencia Street, brunch at Charmaine’s and Backwoods, and dinner anywhere in North Beach. We would walk around the Palace of Fine Arts and Legion of Honor, ending the art tour with bikes up to the Golden Gate Bridge to Baker Beach and Land’s End. We would have to pay a visit to the legendary Lombard Street and Coit Tower, of course. Finishing it all off with a show at The Independent and a stroll through the Japanese Tea Gardens. This city is so vast for its seven-by-seven miles, it is difficult to fit it all into a week trip! Every nook and cranny has its own easter egg of a San Francisco special waiting to be found for the trips unplanned.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am fortunate to say that this was difficult for me to consider, I can think of so many people to thank. My undergraduate sculpture professor Sondra Schwetman comes to mind. She invited me and a few other students to participate in the 2017 CAA/WCA conference in Manhattan. That conference led me to working with the Women’s Caucus for Art (WCA), becoming the Chair for the Young Women’s Caucus, and now sitting on the Board of Directors for the Northern California WCA (NCWCA). I am so grateful for the professors who encouraged me, for the opportunities to develop professionally while gaining real world experience, and for all of those who have commissioned art from me, purchased artwork, shared my posts, liked my social media pages, and talked to others about the work I do. I am thankful for the trust people have put in me to carry out work that brings me joy and fulfillment.

Website: biancalago.com

Instagram: @biancalagoart

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancalagoart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Biancalagoart

Image Credits
The photos of me painting with a beanie on are curtesy of Coskun Caglayan. The night photograph of my Octopus mural is credited to Neema Mazi. Lastly the photo of me sitting on a table in front of my art is thanks to Dominique Birdsong. The rest of them I took myself.