"I fell in love with drawing at 4-years-old. My mom introduced me to drawing as a creative outlet. Around 10, my grandmother enrolled me in art classes at the Art Institute of Chicago. I got into customizing shoes at 13 because my family couldn't afford to buy fresh kicks but twice a year. It was embarrassing, I hated waiting to be fresh. On a random day, I painted a pair of all-white Air Forces and they were a hit the next day at school. Art kept money in my pockets as a teenager."
What do you do and why?
I’m a visual artist and sneaker customizer. I create because it's a passion.
How does what you do benefit others?
My work helps people to define and express themselves in color & style. I also help my clients energize their workspace or homes with dynamic artwork.
Describe your career journey and how it led you to where you are now.
I made the decision to be a career artist after I was laid off from a good job. During this time I focused marketing and public relations in art. I would do pop-up shows and galleries to build a clientele as well as promote on social media. As of now, I often receive clients via referral and social media. I also paint murals & teach painting classes in my spare time. I won an award in 2018 for ” Timeless Artist” and have been featured on the web series “Chicago Talent”
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
I’m looking to have a shop in a busy metro area. I plan to blend my knack for art with the highly profitable sneaker industry to provide designer brand footwear and iconic artwork tailored to the emerging trends in sneaker culture and the urban scene as a whole.
If you could have one superpower to help you further your purpose, what would it be and why? How would you use it?
That would have to be an unfathomable IQ. I could predict what type of trends would emerge years beforehand or influence the art world as I see fit. I could have the minds and hearts of the people just with an image. A power like that gives you tremendous authority and with that people would pay for anything I designed.
