The heart of our mission at VoyageLA is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our city. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some of East LA’s finest artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble-rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with our city’s incredibly deep talent pool. Check out East LA’s rising stars below.
Brian Chism
I moved to LA from Michigan in 2006 to pursue music. After attending a music school I started gigging as a hired guitarist while interning at a recording studio. Once my savings were depleted, I secured a job at a photography grip and lighting house through a friend. Read more>>
I Musici Gemelli -String Duo-
Our group, I Musici Gemelli, consists of Francesco Pio Bertozzi and Giuseppe Pio Bertozzi. We are twin brothers, both violinists. Our passion for music developed when we were children: we always listened to classical music; our mother and father were lovers of the great Masters: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, etc. Read more>>
STRANGELOVE LA
Strangelove began long before it had a studio. Its origins trace back to years of traveling and tattooing around the world by Adam Vu Noir, meeting artists in different countries and building connections through shared work. The idea was simple: create a place where artists from different backgrounds could come together and connect. Read more>>
Ethan Lipsitz
I got my start in 1984 in Brookline, Massachusetts, one of the first trolley car suburbs in the United States. Growing up pre-internet, life was about rollerblades to bikes to skateboards and in the winter, snowboards. From middle school until college I spent most of my time skateboarding in parks, playing musical instruments or ping pong and listening to 90s grunge and Phish. Read more>>
Sarah Gorski
I am an artist and I run a small business creating bespoke bridal accessories. I launched my line of veils and accessories in 2016 with no formal training or experience in the field. I knew absolutely nothing but I was eager to work with my hands and had a strong desire to make beautiful things. Read more>>
brianna flores
213 Beauty Studio was born from a vision to create a one-stop, POC-owned beauty space where women could feel confident, cared for, and inspired. What started as a small idea grew into a full-service studio offering lashes, nails, facials, and more, all built on hard work, community, and a commitment to excellence. Read more>>
Zach Tirone
I knew from an early age that a traditional lifestyle would not be for me. So, I started out by studying acting at theatre conservatories in both Chicago and New York. That training gave me a foundation and curiosity to (hopefully) have the mindset of a student every day for the rest of my life. Read more>>
Natalie Vazquez
I grew up in a Mexican household in a small desert town, pretty far removed from any kind of “art scene.” Because I didn’t have a lot around me, I turned to the internet really young. I’d spend hours exploring different kinds of fashion, music, and aesthetics, especially from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Read more>>
MARINA STRIGARI
I’m Marina Strigari. French- Italian mom of two. I started my career in fashion luxury in Paris and Italy before moving to Los Angeles nine years ago with my husband. We live in Highland park, east Los Angeles. Today, I’m a product merchandising director and I freelance for multiple brands from fashion to home goods. Read more>>
Jessica Sample
After graduating from Brown University I worked in the photo department of Travel + Leisure and stayed there for over five years occasionally shooting for the magazine with the shared Pentax 67 medium format film camera. I moved home to LA with my husband in 2011 and have been doing freelance photography since then. Read more>>
Elizabeth Ludlow
I’ve loved performing for as long as I can remember. As a child I would put on little self made shows for my friends and family in my room and on the playground. Singing and dancing always seemed to come naturally to me. Read more>>
Leonora Pitts
I grew up in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a small city about an hour south of the Canadian border and right next to Minnesota. Read more>>
Asteria Elzea
I’ve always been extremely interested in how and why people behave the way they do, including myself. This curiosity led me to a degree and early career in backstage theater – the stories of people acted out on stage to engender emotion in others. In my mid-twenties I was more interested in my own personal growth, as well as supporting others, so I trained as. Read more>>
Jazmine Hernandez Sanchez
My photographic journey began as a means to fulfill a general education requirement at Cerritos College. However, the experience was transformative. Under the guidance of the remarkable Professor Christina Fernandez, my appreciation for the medium blossomed. I became captivated by the power of the lens to frame my personal perspective, appreciating the discipline it demands and the imperative to observe one’s surroundings with intense scrutiny. Read more>>
Eddie Voyce
I’ve been performing in some capacity pretty much all my life, whether it was in church skits and musicals, or elementary school musicals, band, and choir. Once I reached high school, I discovered actual theatre, and have been performing in those ever since. At the same time I started really getting into rock music. Read more>>
Valerie Salazar
I started doing hair extensions as a hobby. I would make my own clip on extensions by buying hair at your local beayty supply stores, i would stack 3-4 tracks and sew clips on to them. Read more>>
Ariana Rodriguez
I began my career with a deep passion for creative art and hands-on craftsmanship, starting with small projects as a little girl while my mother would create beautiful gowns; it allowed me to explore sewing, fashion, and artistic expression. Over time, my passion grew into a full professional path, blending costume design, and specialized uniform work inspired by both artistry and functionality. Read more>>
Taylor Harris
Sure, I’d love to! I grew up in Chicago, the birthplace of house music, which feels fitting because movement and rhythm were some of the first things that made me feel alive. I was always dancing, making playlists, and trying to make sense of myself through sound long before I had the language for it. My home life was more complex. Read more>>
Jaz Forte
I started creating mixed media art before I even knew the term for it. I’ve always loved learning and creating, so I taught myself different art mediums without the pressure of mastering any single one. Through curiosity and experimentation, I began to intertwine all the techniques I’ve learned, and that became the foundation of my creative process. Read more>>
Yesenia castro
Pink & Boujee is a Latina Owned & Operated restaurant and cafe that started as a small food cart in the Fashion District in DTLA and later blossomed into a brick and mortar in my community of Boyle Heights. It was born out of an idea to combine all my passions into one and create an all pink dining experience. Read more>>
Doug Bradley
Just out of college, I started my advertising career selling phone book ads for Verizon. I didn’t grow up with a lot of money, so seeing businesses spend thousands of dollars a month for an advertisement really grabbed my attention and I was hooked. Right as I was getting really good at this role, the great recession hit and business advertising dollars started shrinking drastically. Read more>>
Daniel Arteaga
I started at Starbucks in 2017 as a Shift Supervisor, closing 5 days a week 4pm – 12:30am. I was pursuing a Masters in Business Management through Starbucks’ college program and I eventually made the decision to pursue a role in the world of what I learned people call ‘specialty coffee’. Read more>>
Kristen DiMercurio
I’m an actor, voice actor, and content creator! I started in theater, made my way to voice over, and sometimes can even be seen in a commercial or two. I moved to LA in 2021, which was the beginning of a pretty chaotic time for the entertainment business. Hollywood was turned upside down, and it hasn’t really gotten its footing since. Read more>>
Josh Agran
It all started when I decided to make myself an italian hoagie for my lunchbreak, I was working at Cookbook in Highland Park at the time. My coworkers all got a chance to try it and everyone encouraged me to do a pop up. Including a very cool and nice celebrity. I was turned off by the thought of all the work. Read more>>
Jay Dekony
I’ve always been a creative kid, seeing the beauty in the world. When I grew up, I was going to school for accounting, something in safe and secure, before realizing that was not what brought me joy. I made the decision to drop out of school, fully pursue art, and I am proud to say I have been ever since. Read more>>
Ann Gutierrez
My name is Ann Gutierrez Velazquez and I’m a Los Angeles-based Architect, Landscape Designer, and Horticulturist. I founded Little Sister Workshop as a space for the work I want to be doing now and into the future. My practice is grounded in place, climate, and craft. I work within living systems, not just around them. My start in the business is slightly criminal. Read more>>
Tara Pixley
I first started in photography in high school, taking photos to go alongside an article I wrote for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Then in college, I was a photo editor at my campus newspaper and started getting internships as a photojournalist. I worked as a staff photographer and photo editor for a few years but then went full-time freelance in 2011. Read more>>
Indiana Lormont
I’m originally from France, but my journey really took shape when I moved to Chicago for film school. Being in a completely new environment pushed me to grow quickly, culturally, personally, and creatively. While I was there, I started exploring my interest in film production and had the chance to take on a few internships that really opened my eyes to the industry. Read more>>
Char Gray
My love for fashion began the moment I was able to dress myself. With a true fashionista as my mother, I grew up watching her effortlessly express herself through style, and she gave me the freedom to do the same. That early encouragement sparked something in me—an unshakable passion for creativity, individuality, and the power of personal expression. As I grew older, that spark evolved. Read more>>
Jason Pethtel
I grew up in a small midwestern town. Robinson, IL. just a middle class town in the cornfields. I had a typical, but modest childhood. I always dreamt of being an artist and moving away to ‘the big city’ to pursue my dreams. I went to college for Cinema/Photography, later pivoting to Graphic Design. Read more>>
Tevin Cherry
My name is Tevin Dion Cherry. I was born and grew up in Thomaston Georgia. I am currently a resident of Atlanta, Georgia. My love and passion for health and wellness came from my love for gym and recreation.. I became a NASM certified personal trainer in June 2020 during the Covid pandemic. Read more>>
