Today we’d like to introduce you to Pau Aguirre.
Hi Pau, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was raised in Los Angeles, not really knowing what I wanted to “do when I grew up”. I’ve always loved art and creating since I was a kid. My Dad is originally from Chile- He moved back there when I was a teenager, and I actually moved there from 16-18 years old. I had the best time of my life and that’s when I got into figure drawing. My dad wanted to put me in an art class outside of school, so once a week in the evening, I would go to the studio of a professional Artist and draw a nude model. It was such an enjoyable experience-I’ve even kept up with this practice ever since. When I came back to Los Angeles, I began working as a makeup artist for a few years. It was fun but it just wasn’t my passion- Painting was. I got back into art jobs full-time, whether it was sign work for restaurants, murals in homes, pet portraits, people portraits – I even designed Lana Del Rey’s World Tour promo art. I kept busy but always had a desire to have my own space, to settle down and ground a creative business. Last summer, I walked past this open, abandoned gallery on Melrose. I knew it was going to be mine! I contacted the landlord and the rest is history. Pauhaus was born, and it’s now become a creative community I never could have imagined. I started a weekly figure drawing workshop.. then began curating weekly comedy shows…then an open mic music night…an open mic comedy night…and anything else that’s fun and creative that can bring people together. It’s been a blast meeting so many L.A. artists who have now become my friends. Our town needed a safe place to share and work on their craft- so being able to supply that to my neighborhood is an honor.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve definitely had some downs along the way. Figuring out a creative life takes a lot of time and patience. I’m 36 and still learning every day how to maintain a creative career. I have the mentality of not feeling sorry for myself- nobody owes me anything. It’s up to me to get up, figure it out, and execute. I’m thankful every day for my arms, legs, and functioning brain to be able to make a living. There are plenty of people in the World who have it way worse than me, so I don’t sulk at home feeling bad that I’m not a millionaire yet or I’m not the most famous artist. I’m thankful for those mistakes I’ve made in my past when things didn’t go my way. I ended up having to deal with shit, and that’s what life is sometimes- Dealing with shit. What’s most important is figuring out what’s next. How do I move forward in the right direction? There have been times I had to move back to my mom’s and sleep on her couch. There were times I didn’t have enough money for food or gas. I’ve felt lost and thought I had no purpose…but I got through it and look at me now! I run my own art gallery, and I’m full with gratitude and excitement for the future. It’s a blessing and a curse to be an artist, and only the strong survive. I’m a survivor.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My new art gallery Pauhaus is a creative community that has quickly turned into a center for not only visual Artists but Comedians, Musicians, Actors, Photographers, and Filmmakers. Every week consists of open mic nights, comedy shows, and figure drawing. We also create fun seasonal events that bring people together to connect and network. It’s been so interesting seeing this place snowball into what it is today. When I first opened, I truly had no real idea what was going to happen. I knew I wanted to show my art and other artists’ work I enjoy. I knew I wanted to host a consistent figure-drawing workshop. That’s about it. Then I included my other interests like comedy and music into the mix. I have been heavy in the comedy scene for years, so I got some comic friends of mine together to put on a show. It went so well that I just kept it going. Music has always been a part of my life too since my dad is a touring musician- my family nights usually consist of mostly karaoke and jamming. Juggling these shows have been really inspiring and now realize we needed a space like this. Somewhere to go where you’ll see cool art, listen to great music/comedy, and meet awesome people. It’s been such a pleasure managing Pauhaus into what it was “destined to become” the newest and hottest space in Los Angeles for Artists to share their craft. Check out any updates on my website: www.pauhausgallery.com or my Instagram: @pauhausla.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
– Painting / drawing / creating: nothing makes me happier or more fulfilled. It’s what I came to Earth to do!
– Hanging out with friends: I have some great girlfriends and wouldn’t know what to do without them.
– Exercising with my dog Luna: She loves to run so when she’s happy, I’m happy.
– Visiting family: I’m lucky my family is awesome and fun. I love hanging with them.
– Having nowhere to go, with a fridge full of food, a bunch of weed to smoke, with all the art I can work on!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pauhausgallery.com
- Instagram: @artofpau
- Facebook: @Pauart
- Twitter: @art_of_pau
