Meet Tesh Silver | Multidimensional Illustrator & Designer

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

Hi Tesh, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
My favorite affirmation is “Feel the fear but do it anyway.” This quote allows us space for experiencing fear, lack, or doubt, but not setting limitations on what we can achieve. Tapping into that initial fear can be a good thing. Stepping out on faith and believing that your experience can carry you is hard, but the lessons that you learn in self-awareness and your ability to take on seemingly impossible tasks are worth it. Instead of “don’t be afraid”, feel the fear, but know you won’t be controlled by it.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
As a kid, drawing was my whole life. I wasn’t aware that I could make a career out of it, but all I knew is that it was all I wanted to do. I had lots of guidance from my mother and other people in my formative years, not necessarily on technique, but how to pursue my passions. Doing what I loved has led me down a path that I was given space to dream about, a privilege that’s rarely afforded to everyone, and I am humbled by that constantly, even on hard days. People always say they got to where they are through hard work, but I got to where I am by dreaming and others dreaming that dream with me. My work is intentional, inclusive, and ever-expanding and I will never stop representing the people who got me to where I am today.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Even if you’ve never been to Chicago, you know the hotspots: Downtown is Millennium Park, the Magnificent Mile and The Art Institute, up north is Wrigley Field, down south is the Museum of Science and Industry. But what people who are just visiting really miss are the neighborhoods. Chicago has almost 200 little villages in it, each unique on their own. Chicago’s restaurant scene is of course unmatched and wholly distinct, but I’m a huge fan of green space, and Chicago carries the nickname “City In A Garden”, which is absolutely true. Washington Park is GORGEOUS with willow trees and lagoons, the Japanese Garden on the Southside is a hidden remnant of thr 1865 World’s Fair, Lincoln Park has a free zoo, and Garfield Park has its own conservatory that I love to visit when I need a break from noise outside. The lakefront is a part of the park system too and I can’t live without being by water. Chicago is obviously a big city with big city problems, but there’s pockets of peace in all directions.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shout out my incredible community! Chicago is a hub for dynamic artists, community organizing, and social and political justice efforts, and I’m blessed to have been considered to helped in those endeavors with my own artistic vision. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be where I am right now☆

Website: astratesh.com

Instagram: @astratesh

Twitter: @astratesh

Facebook: Astratesh – Tesh Silver

Image Credits
First two documentation images of “Liberation Among The Stars” solo show by Colectivo Multipolar (Vanessa Lara)