Artistic and creative careers are among the most rewarding, but they also come with unique challenges. We asked some of the city’s best creatives to tell us why they choose to pursue a creative career.

Bri Campagnini | Owner & Maker of Elysian Collective

I’ve always loved creating ever since I can remember. I started out creating polymer clay earrings during the first quarantine, and in 2021 I established Elysian Collective! My mission was to help others express themselves through accessories as unique as they are. Read more>>

Ryan Barrow | Mosaic & Stained Glass Artist

My artistic and creative career began before I even knew it. Throughout my youth, I was influenced by many artists and craftsman in my family, helping to groom my skills for more than 25 years. It was while taking an elective course in stained glass, I realized my true potential to become a real artist. Read more>>

Pinar Aral | Visual Artist, Sculptor

I went to a clay workshop in 2015 about addressing personal trauma and/or loss. This wasn’t my first time touching the clay, I had taken various classes before at Lillstreet Art Center and Horner park clay studio and made functional objects. This was a different approach. The Artist moderator Corinne D. Peterson called this workshop “Shaping clay, shaping life”. Read more>>

Conrad Hunt | Artist & Shop Owner

Within the 12+ years of this career and, especially in the pandemic, my, “Why,” has become crystal clear. It has been solidified and galvanized throughout COVID. We need art. In all its forms. I need it. Read more>>