Meet Tsola Akuya | Artist

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

Hi Tsola, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I’ve never considered myself a risk taker, I just considered myself someone who refused to settle. My curiosity always led me to ask for more, my never ending dreams always required exploration and ultimately- operating out of place of excitement and child-like faith. Call it risk taking, it’s more following the voice within. There’s a “risk” in everything, might as well give it a try! The mere act of stepping out on faith, on a thought, a risk, a maybe, a dream has opened up doors I couldn’t ask for. Without it, many gifts within myself would be laying dormant still.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Me, well, I like to tell stories. The visions in my head, that kind of just…show up. My art is literally like a picture book. Just look and see. Feel. Construct your own narrative if you like. I believe I am an artist that stands for something: individuality, equality, sense of self, confidence, empowerment, etc. I’m most proud of learning who I am and who I am not. I’m so grateful that God created me in the most stellar, quirky yet relatable way-hahaha. I would say love got me here. I just simply loved what I got to do growing up as a kid: dancing and performing. In retrospect, it wasn’t easy. But in the moment, man, I must’ve been drunk in love because nothing and I mean nothing got to me. I was so focused, so passionate, so willing to learn. I’ve learned that love and purspose is the driving force, it’s what makes me look to the world and say: “I have something to add to this place”. My purpose in this life truly is to minister through the arts and I’ve also learned that a big responsibility is also a big burden. I am so intentional on what I let into my temple (mind, body, environment) and what I release. Please know that I try to live a filtered life, through all the distractions. I’m not perfect yet processing on living in a place where I am just in a constant flow: of listening, learning, creating, and releasing.

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?
Chile, we going on a road trip! I’m one of the few people who love to drive, so an hour or two out of town to San Diego, Long Beach, another down the coast of PCH to get the view-I’m all here for. I’m a ramen connoisseur so somewhere along the ride we are getting ramen. I think touristy places are a must see (sorry) but we can offset the trendy places with a beautiful walk on the beach and of course going to see every single art museum know to man in the area.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to thank and shoutout my mother, Mabel Akuya. She let me go against the grain, supported me when I dropped out of college and moved to LA, despite the chatter of extended family members in my ear saying my artistic endeavors were mere hobbies. Forever I honor her, love her, and thank her for seeing the seed in me and helping it grow. Love you mama!

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1sCdSTDhQr5g2Wr1mXUH0g

Image Credits
Lee Gumbs Brandon Mathis Victoria Cunanan Marvin James Nathan Cooper Eugene D Maddy Robiee Z