An Inspired Chat with Jena Priebe

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jena Priebe. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Jena, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
As a small business owner, I rarely have the chance to lose myself in anything. I have very little time! However, the only time when this naturally happens is when I’m reading an especially good novel OR when I am creating my own artwork. In these moments, time just ceases to exist. I don’t seem to notice hunger or bodily discomfort at all, it’s so weird. It’s only when I snap out of my” bliss trance” that I’ll notice how hungry I am and that time has magically passed. It is the most divine experience for me as I usually have such a structured life.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Dearest readers, I am Jena Priebe. I am the owner of a lovely little art gallery and gift shop in downtown Los Angeles. I have the pleasure of curating this gallery as well as The Spring Arts Gallery above The Last Bookstore in DTLA. I am also lucky enough to be an independent artist who focuses on sculpture and installation artwork.

In 2007, I moved into my art studio into the Spring Arts Tower in DTLA with a few other artists. There were many amazing nights of happiness working in this studio. I would work brutal 12-hour days serving tables and bartending and go straight to the studio all night afterward. It was during the golden age of the art scene in downtown LA and there were creatives everywhere.

During this era, I met a beautiful array of people and was lucky enough to curate events for The Downtown Los Angeles Artwalk when the sidewalks were so full of people, they spilled out into the streets to see all the artwork and installations everywhere.

From this energy, my studio gave way to selling others’ artwork and eventually local makers of things, eventually birthing my now gallery, FOLD.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My mom clearly saw me before I saw who I was myself. It sounds so trite; however, it is so true. She saw me as a fiery, independent, thoughtful, creative child who saw no bounds to my crazy imaginings. I grew up a little and started to lack confidence, was angry, thoughtless and lacked ambition (typical teenage years?) Through it all, she always reminded me of who I really was and that I was resilient and could get there again.

What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I thought that failing was the end of something. I truly thought it would crush me whole to fail and I would never be able to pick myself up and move forward.

What I learned is that it is not an ending, but a beginning. It gives one the valuable insight of what went wrong, what can be done better and that even though it felt terrible, it wasn’t the end of the world. it actually makes you stronger, more resilient, more able to weather the hard times, the bad times, the times you wish weren’t happening.

Failing has to happen so that you can do better and be better. It has to happen so that when you do something amazing and right, you can taste that sweet victory for what it is.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Haha, for better or for worse, the public me is very much real. Almost to the point of getting me in trouble. It’s not in my nature to lie to myself or others. Some people really don’t like that.

That doesn’t mean I am immune to changing my mind or being open to new concepts or ideas or people. I just do not build a lie around myself. A lie, in my mind, is not a life worth living. I’m still a multifaceted human being with many interests and sides to myself. People can perceive what they want, that is not up to me what they think.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I always give my best. It’s a goal to make every day a work of art. It is one of my many inspirations in life, to live a beautiful life on my own terms. And honestly, who cares what anyone else thinks.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://FOLDgoods.com
• Instagram: FOLDdtla
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFoldattheLastBookstore
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fold-gallery-los-angeles
• Other: TikTok – FOLDdtla

Image Credits
Robert Lebsack
Kimberly Davis