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.

 Zeke Baker

From a young age I’ve been attracted to music and fashion and how I can use it to express and define myself as a person. Im a model and hoping to be a fashion influencer while I keep releasing music and developing my skill. Read More>>

Jess Taussig

I think a lot of it comes from the fact that I’m left-handed—my brain just naturally leans towards creativity. Growing up, I had to learn a lot of things in my own way, which taught me to problem-solve differently. Starting my own business was a chance to fully embrace that creative side and apply it in ways I hadn’t before. I had an incredible mentor who shared some truly elevated business practices with me, and that’s been the backbone of my journey—I’ll always be grateful for that.  Read More>>

Billy Fabrocini

For us, it comes down to that feeling of fulfillment. For some of us, music has become so intertwined in every aspect of our lives that no matter how many directions we get pulled in, it seems like at the end of the day music is what maintains us on the correct path. The beauty of doing what you love, with others that love it as well, is that the decision to continue just gets easier. Read More>>

Nate Lamb

Starting Woolly Furniture wasn’t about chasing a business dream or making big money (I don’t think any maker or artist is in it for that). In the beginning, it was about answering that voice inside every maker that says, “I wonder if I could make that” — which soon turns into, “Wow, this is really satisfying.” Read More>>

Erin Lassahn

It didn’t feel like there was any alternative other than pursuing something in the arts! My whole life I have gravitated towards the arts and anything creative; be it drawing, painting, sewing, singing, dancing – I have done it all. I am not sure I would be successful doing something non-arts related, but thankfully I have enjoyed being a photographer for 17 years now, and have several artistic hobbies as well. It’s so gratifying to be able to create tangible, and intagible things to create joy for clients, and myself alike! Read More>>

Beauty Kussoy

I pursued a creative career because I’ve always seen art as both a form of survival and a tool for liberation. Growing up Indonesian-American, I constantly navigated multiple cultural identities. Art became my way of making sense of it all — a language that transcended borders, binaries, and expectations. Over time, it evolved from a personal outlet into a public practice rooted in storytelling, connection, and community building. Read More>>

Desirae Gonzalez

To allow ourselves to be free in what we do and who we are as artists. To allow self expression and inclusion where most places want u to hide who u are and what u see so we took control and chose freedom of expression. Read More>>

Sagan Petr Smith

Growing up, I was always surrounded by the world of creativity, whether that reflected in my Moms cooking, or in my Dad’s musicianship. My father has been playing the guitar since he was about 9 or 10 (around 1975-77 was when he really started playing), which would eventually lead him touring the country with his band “ALASKA”. He then studied at The Ohio State University for Sound Engineering.  Read More>>

Nina Marie

Choosing to pursue a creative career was definitely not something that I planned to do. After years of owning a healing business, writing kind of fell in my lap. I had to close my business. I was supplementing my income making witchy bath bombs and I was trying to find a “real” job when the Universe started screaming at me, “Hey! You’ve got a story to tell!” I was super hesitant about it at first. Like, who cares what I have to say? Who would want to read something that I wrote? But it consumed me, almost as if my life depended on writing that story.  Read More>>