Meet Sujey Iribe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sujey Iribe.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I’m a designer and calligrapher. As a kid, art was my favorite subject in school along with cursive drills. In college, I studied design and later worked as a wedding stationery designer for several years before picking up a pen and learning modern calligraphy. I started my lettering journey as a fun hobby and a way to reduce stress; however, it quickly turned into a passion project and something I love to share with others.

Please tell us about your art.
When I’m not working at my day job, I’m working on hand-lettered and calligraphy commissions for weddings, social events, and signage for local businesses. I specialize in pointed pen and brush lettering, and I also teach in-person beginner lettering workshops a few times a year. I never thought I would turn this side project into a paying gig, so what I hope people will take away from my work is that I do it with love, appreciation, and I feel incredibly lucky when a bride wants to incorporate my lettering style into her wedding stationery or when a local coffee shop asks me to letter their menu in my handwriting. It’s incredibly rewarding to share what I’ve learned so far with people who are eager to learn something new!

What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
I feel like conditions for artists have gotten so much better with social media. We are able to create our own space, share our work and connect with other artists. Being respectful of the work that others produce and giving proper credit is always important, and being mindful not to fall into the comparison trap can be difficult sometimes.

However, I have found that the calligraphy and lettering community has been so supportive and encouraging. I am always learning from other calligraphers, both seasoned pros and artists beginning their journey. It’s always humbling when someone reaches out for advice, and I’m always blown away by how gracious others are when I reach out. We are always learning, growing and developing our own styles, so it’s wonderful when helping each other out.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can see my work and follow me on Instagram… You might see my work in a few shops in Pasadena as well as various pop-ups around Los Angeles. On June 29th I’ll be teaching a beginner brush lettering workshop hosted by Ronnie M Layering Bar in Claremont.

Contact Info:

• Email: iribecalligraphy@gmail.com
• Instagram: @su.hey

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.