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.

Ace ofbade | Content Creator

In March of 2020 the lockdown happened and my hours at my job were cut in half. I needed something to do to stay busy since we were all stuck inside. Content creation was something I had thought about in 2019 and realized it was time to seriously look into it. So I started streaming over on Twitch and really liked it and met a lot of great streamers and content creators doing the same thing, plus playing games is a hobby of mine. I’ve done some big events like anniversary streams and charity streams, raising money for Starlight Children’s Foundation. Then in March of 2023 I wanted to branch out a bit and start doing reaction content. I had done a little bit on my main YouTube channel, but I wanted to not only do more, but put that on its own channel. Read more>>

Cristina A. Bejan | Author & Artist

I never decided to pursue an artistic and creative career. It just happened! Ever since I can remember holding a pen I have been scribbling away in notebooks writing poetry and plays. To create has always been my natural impulse so even throughout school, university, grad school, serious job after serious job, I was always making time and holding space for the creative in my life. But it never felt intentional – this time was just naturally there. If anything I wrote my spoken word poetry and plays – produced shows in festivals – became a regular at open mics – out of survival. I needed to share space with other creatives in order to survive the siloed capitalist patriarchal “adult” world I was existing in. Read more>>

Holiday Darling | Queer Creative

From as early as I can remember, I was always engaging in some sort of creativity; they were opportunities to get lost in my imagination–which itself served as an escape from a fractured family and traumatic childhood. In my own time, I was able to turn escapism into expression and use my creativity to not only engage with the world, but find myself a community of like-mindedly creative, queer people. Being creative makes me feel better about being myself, so I committed myself to pursuing my creativity and utilizing it to represent and celebrate myself and my community. Read more>>

John Dicicco | Fashion Guru & Colorado Native

I perused a creative career path in fine arts to follow my passion. I have had a love for art for as long as I can remember. It simply makes me feel electric. In other words it’s my drive, the thing that I look forward to. Read more>>

Jovanni Berry | Independent model & Dental assistant

I am perusing a artistic/ creative carrier because I have always had a eye for art and how it’s shown through models weather it’s a old sign on the side of the road or a high end piece of clothing everything has meaning to it. Being able to express myself through my own idea of creativity is what it’s about, straying from the norms or everyone else and paving your own path of what you like/love Read more>>

Claire Chambers | Licensed Esthetician

I decided to pursue a creative/artistic career so that I could turn my hobbies into my job. I’ve always had a passion for skin and makeup, and have always loved making others feel amazing about themselves. So, deciding to become an esthetician was a no brainer. Read more>>