Meet Sergio Teran: Artist/Educator

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

Hi Sergio, how do you think about risk?
Choosing to be an artist was a lifestyle risk especially coming from a working class background. That is, It’s financially uncertain, and although there may be intrinsic value it can seem really impractical. I understood that I might fail, but it was the only way to find myself on the other side of this career choice. Taking risks inside and outside of the studio is imperative, for an artist. The tricky part is getting up and dusting yourself off. If you want to learn and endure, learning is in the failures of ones choices.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have to assume that most career paths are challenging and challenges are different for everyone. I have always been a disciplined person with a strong work ethic. One of the challenges I faced was protecting my studio time. I learned to purge my life of negative influences and distractions. This helped my confidence and focus. In a sense my work is about my subjective existence as a Latinx person in Los Angeles, and by extension the US. One of my personal challenges is to understand who I am in the context of my culture. Most of my career has been about finding myself. In my work, I avoid pop-culture stereotypes while attempting to embrace my own ethnicity as a positive influence. I also learn from other ethnicities in the U.S. that might share the multi-cultural dynamic. A career in the arts has given me the opportunity to have a voice.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
MONDAY : homemade Mexican food/ Amoeba records (Hollywood) for some vinyl/ Sushi at Soregashi (Santa Monica) . /LACMA Museum/ TUESDAY : Mexican bfast /lunch @Vinces Deli/ cappuccino at Jones Coffee/ take the train DTLA and visit MOCA museum walk Little Tokyo . WEDNESDAY: Morning walk Rose bowl/ Breakfast Mike and Anne’s (Pasadena) / Coffee at Vroman’s Book Store / Catch a movie next door at Leammle’s Theatre./Mexican Taco Truck THURSDAYS: Avenue 50 Studio/ Coffee at Homegirl Cafe/ Mural watching/walk down Cesar Chavez in E.L.A. / VPAM Museum/ Pizza at Angelos Italian restaurant. FRIDAY: Morning walk/ Coffee at Amy’s Pastry Inc/ Lunch at Mian Sichuan Noodles (Alhambra)/ Catch a show at the Mark Taper Forum.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Both my parents were chance takers with a fair amount of life skills between the two of them. My mother was a freelancer and my father was a bit of an entrepreneur. They both struggled and often failed but mostly, adapted and recovered. The life skills saved them both and indirectly helped me. Career-wise I could not have come as far as I have without the unconditional support, love and encouragement I received from my wife and family. I would also like to apologize to my wife for the constant art talk during all the dinners, road trips, family gatherings, birthdays etc. Thank you.

Website: https://sergio-teran-7kjf.squarespace.com/config/
Instagram: sergioteranarts
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Image Credits
Photo Cred: Genessis Martinez Photo Cred: Hataya Tubtim