We asked some of the city’s leading artists and creatives to tell us about how they decided to pursue an artistic or creative career. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Presley Yang

Choosing an artistic career was rooted in my childhood. I was born in Taiwan. Since I can remember, I have been passionate about drawing. In my everyday life, I used various colors to express my feelings and drew everything around me. Drawing was an easier way for me to express myself than talking. When I was 12, I attended an art class in junior high school for professional art training, and at the age of 15, I was accepted into the best art class in high school in southern Taiwan. However, I gradually felt restrained and lost the excitement of drawing due to the rigid painting standards in the art class. Read more>>

Abraham Lopez

The reason I chose to pursue an artistic and creative career is because ever since I was young I enjoyed going to the movies and being taken to another world where anything is possible. I enjoyed the storytelling and the creativity, therefore inspiring me to create, direct, write, and produce movies of my own. I love it and am passionate about it so I chose to pursue it as my career. Read more>>

Sirawich Pukuka

One of the reasons that I wanted to pursue an artistic career is the lack of individual voices in my country, Thailand. I believed that art would be a tool that helps bring messages or social issues across society. Basic human rights or freedom of speech in Thailand is still very problematic as you can be jailed for up to 3 – 15 years if you criticize the royals. Read more>>

Mann Bipin

I’m not sure how it usually is for creative people, but I realized early on that playing my instrument and honing my craft was something I could do naturally, driven by my curiosity. I was intrigued by why certain things didn’t work in my mind but did in reality, and my pursuit of understanding them led me to attend concerts and meet musicians. The key advice I consistently received was about maintaining the right mindset toward your craft, balancing your passion with financial responsibilities, and managing your finances. Read more>>

Kathrin Asmus | Cinematographer

I grew up in a small town about 40 minutes from Vienna, Austria. Looking back now, I’m grateful for that experience, but as a child, I often felt the urge to escape. I think that longing is a feeling many people who grow up in small towns can relate to. It’s only as we get older that we start to appreciate the charm of it. Read more>>

Angela Petruzziello | Actor & Writer

I’ve been pursuing the arts since I was a kid. I started off as a dancer and always thought that’s what I would do. I had a friend when I was around elementary school age who would audition professionally all the time and she asked if I wanted to take an acting class in New York with her, a big deal for me then. We did an intensive at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute and that’s how I fell into acting. I loved it so much, everything about it. It’s one of those things you can’t really explain, it just makes sense. Read more>>

Tom Hall | Electronic Audio Visual Artist

To be honest, it wasn’t really a choice; there was simply a feeling from a very young age. I was intrinsically drawn to many forms of creativity during my childhood. I should note that my mother is also very creative, and that was definitely an influence. Read more>>

Yana Polshina | Floral Designer, Private Museum Tour Guide, Event Specialist

I am deeply fascinated by how art influences both individuals and communities on psychological and emotional levels. For me, art is a language beyond words, creating a bridge to history, culture, and human experience. It provides a unique form of expression that enriches both the creator and the viewer, fostering empathy, innovation, and mindfulness. I believe the creative process is not merely a career, but a journey of lifelong learning and transformation. Read more>>

Rogelio Nueto | Actor, writer. A creative person

“Since I was a kid, I knew I didn’t want to work in an office with strict schedules, so a career full of uncertainty seemed like my best option. Jokes aside, I have this need to express myself that I can only fulfill through acting or writing. It’s the most effective way I’ve found to communicate.” Read more>>

Isaiah Smith | Photographer

Life is so bland and so negative sometimes, I try my best to make it so my brand and the work I do reflects a bright and positive experience / outlook. I love being able to make one perfect moment be cherished for a lifetime. Read more>>

Carmina Veras | Creative and Curator

Creativity and Artistic Expression are some of the most beautiful things we can participate in & enjoy. I’ve been lucky enough to learn of a good variety, or meet other creatives. I feel comfortable trying new things and seeing how it’ll pan out. With Creativity, we develop a taste to it, a style, and then see all the new ways to express our imagination, tell a story, to transmute emotions. Read more>>

Haoda Ma | Furniture and Industrial Designer

I had a big reason and a small reason. The big reason was that I’ve always wanted to create more fun in the world. And the path to create more fun in the world for me was to design and create objects that bring people together. The small reason was that I wanted to design furniture and objects for my cats, and I stumbled across furniture design. The rest is history. Read more>>

Jennifer Brennnan | Paper Mâché Artist

Well, I hadn’t actually set out to pursue an artistic career. I have never gone to art school, and I have no formal training. I always just seemed to have a natural gift for creativity. I will never forget my grade school art teacher, Mr. Lomangino. He helped foster a great confidence in me with my art that really stuck with me. I was a very shy and introverted child, who didn’t receive the encouragement with my art at home that I wished I had. . I was fortunate enough though, to have a horse in my life growing up. Read more>>

Briana Roy | Actress | Model | Artist | Entrepreneur

From the earliest days of my childhood, creativity has danced with me, weaving a tapestry of dreams into vivid realities. Even as a young child, I was gifted with the profound clarity of knowing my own essence—capable, artistic, and brimming with imagination. At the tender age of six, I would close my eyes and envision a future where I thrived as a model, actress, artist, and entrepreneur, fueled by an unyielding passion and unwavering ambition. Read more>>

Kailey And Travis Little | Content Creators

We pursued a creative career because it allows us to express ourselves in ways that align with our passions and values. For us, creativity isn’t just about making content—it’s about sharing our unique experiences, perspectives, and interests with others. Whether through dancing, parenting content, or lifestyle insights, we find joy in creating and connecting with people on a deeper level. This career path provides the freedom to explore, innovate, and build a community around shared interests and authentic experiences. It’s fulfilling to see our creativity make a positive impact and inspire others in their own lives. Read more>>

Danielle Dmg.ventures | Clinical Talent Partner & Creator

I’ve always had a deep-seated passion for exploration, driven by a desire to discover new places and create unique experiences. For example, though I grew up in Los Angeles, I felt a pull to experience life outside California, so I completed my undergrad in Texas and immersed myself in its agricultural way of life. At 13, I took my first solo trip to visit my aunt in Arizona, and later, I embarked on my first transatlantic journey to South Africa, once again traveling alone. Read more>>

Heidi Minghao He | Award-winning Creative Technologist

I pursued a creative career because creativity has always been deeply woven into my life. From an early age, it was my way of navigating the world, offering solace during difficult times and serving as a language when words fell short. In my early 20s, I often retreated into painting, using art to explore emotions and hidden aspects of myself. This process of self-expression and discovery became a vital part of who I am. The more I created, the more I realized that my passion extended beyond the art itself—it was about the impact it had on me and those around me. Read more>>

Margarita Hirapetian | Writer & DJ

I’ve always been a creative person and really never considered pursuing anything else, even though more practical career choices were always being pushed on me. Since I was a child I’ve been interested in storytelling, music, and painting/drawing. Creative and artistic endeavors have always been the most fulfilling for me, nourishing my spirit like nothing else. Being the stubborn person that I am, I never let anybody deviate me from my chosen path of becoming a writer. Read more>>

Kazual Music | Artist, Singer, Musician, Composer, Producer, Dancer

It was only within, maybe, the last 5 to 10 years that I honestly came to the realization that “music chose me”. I honestly don’t even think that I had a choice in the matter. Ever since I could talk as a child, I’ve been singing. Ever since I could walk, I’ve been dancing, and I taught myself how to play keyboards on an old kids organ that my aunt bought for my cousin. My cousin ended up never using it at all and my aunt just gave it to me to take home since every time I would go to my aunt’s house to spend the weekends with my cousins I’d be in the room playing on it and teaching myself how to play songs from the radio while my cousins were outside playing sports and riding bicycles. Read more>>

Jamarr Tillman Tillman | Actor

I pursued to become an Actor randomly . Literally I didn’t know I wanted to get into this career until I was introduced to it. It started back in 2012, when I graduated from college at western Illinois university. I moved back to Chicago and a friend said that I should audition for a role in this play. I did and booked the role. It was a theater role and it opened Friday and closed Sunday. Friday there was 3 guest in the audience, Saturday 8 and Sunday 3. On Sunday night it was just my family in the audience. Read more>>

Vir Srinivas | Filmmaker

Any career can be creative. I didn’t choose to be a filmmaker over something else because it was ‘artistic’. A lawyer can turn his vocation into a fine art, while a director can be completely bereft of imagination. I’m probably better at film than anything else, and fortunately, it also happens to be one of my greatest passion. Read more>>