Meet Tessa Nesis | Dancer, Film Photographer, Model, Yogi, Actress, Musician

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

Hi Tessa, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
To pursue full expression without judgment, archive the creative mind and body, and bring imagination to life – visions to fruition. Art helps process experiences, emotions, thoughts. I value seeing the beauty in everything and finding joy in the small things. Not only that, communicating deeper meaning, the impetus of existence is a driving force. As a lover of aesthetics, creating and commenting on beauty fascinates me. Also, who wants to live in bug society? Not me. 🙂

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 started pursing an artistic career in the summer of 2017 after completing my 3rd semester at USC. While backpacking Europe solo, I had a spiritual awakening that was the catalyst for my art. As a life long lover of dance and music, I always knew I had to fulfill my passions, but it wasn’t until then that I fully relinquished the reigns of societal conditioning and opened my heart to love. Balancing school and creative pursuits was not easy, but staying true to myself and pursuing what ignited my passions kept me going. In the fall of 2019, my last semester at USC, I took a chess elective and the term “zugzwang” or the compulsion to move really stuck with me. Creating art requires being uncomfortable, and the necessity to move is a driving force. So, I overcame the blockages by embracing unpredictability and being a hobbyist, but also grounding myself in the present through yoga, meditation, travel, and of course, surrounding myself with people that helped me grow. The lessons I’ve learned are do not conform, trust your intuition, and build your karmic propensity. The things you do for others inevitably come back to you tenfold. I am committed to spiritual ascension through creative means; the process is the most important. All in all, a thorough process guarantees a favorable outcome.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Food: Urth Caffé (multiple locations: great for brunch), India Sweets & Spices (classic incense & Indian cuisine spot in Atwater Village- very cheap lunch and dinner options), Larchmont Wine & Cheese (best deli sandwiches on Larchmont), Sam’s Bagels (best bagels on Larchmont), Yuko Kitchen (best Japanese food with lush plant atmosphere in Mid Wilshire), Chapman Plaza in Koreatown (lots of dining in the courtyard) Abandoned Places: Nike Missile Launch Site LA-88 (Chatsworth), Devils Gate Dam (Pasadena)
Shopping: Dolls Kill (Melrose/Fairfax shopping district), Council Thrift Stores, Silverlake Flea (Saturdays and Sundays), Melrose Trading Post (Sundays)
Hiking: Topanga State Park (lots of trails, can’t go wrong here! Eagle Rock is really nice for grounding)
Art: Mosaic Tile House in Venice (open to public on Saturdays), Hollywood Sculpture Garden (open by appointment)
Film Photo Labs/Stores: Gold 1 Hour Photo (Koreatown), D&J Digital Imaging (East Hollywood), The Icon (Mid Wilshire), Samy’s Camera (West Hollywood)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my current favorite film directors and their cinematic masterpieces. I’ve been watching a lot of Ken Russell and Terry Gilliam films, including The Devils, The Music Lovers, Lisztomania, The Boy Friend, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Twelve Monkeys and Brazil. These visual mediums have imprinted lasting images on my mind that have inevitably fed my art again and again.

Instagram: @tnesis & @starcinnabar

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUJ33PkVxOVqdb8YEzdhOdg

Other: email: tnesis@usc.edu

Image Credits
Sara Nesis Jonathan Vaughn Kirsten Reiss