Daily Inspiration: Meet Judi Guerrero

Today we’d like to introduce you to Judi Guerrero.

Hi Judi, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Judi Guerrero, but in the art scene I’m known as Lolajbird. I’m from the San Fernando Valley. I was born and raised here in North Hollywood and have spent most of my life in California. I had a pretty typical Mexican childhood, where everything seemed to revolve around food and family. My childhood was loud, los Cadetes de linares were always playing somewhere in the background and there was usually a house full of people, conversation, and laughter. It was colorful and sometimes chaotic, but most of all it smelled like frijoles de la olla, chiles and cafecito. There was something very beautiful and comforting about that chaos. it was familiar. it was home.

When I was 13 that sense of familiarity changed abruptly. After my parents separated, my mom uprooted us to Houston, Texas to be closer to her brothers and sisters. It was a huge transition for me. I went from being surrounded by the people, places and routines I had always known, to suddenly being somewhere completely unfamiliar. Although I was technically surrounded by family, they were family I hadn’t grown up with, so I felt out of place and isolated. This is when art became a lifeline for me. I had always been drawn to creative things, but in Houston, it became something much deeper. Music, poetry, storytelling, drawing…anything creative gave me a place to escape, process what I was feeling and express things I wasn’t necessarily allowed to voice.

My path with art hasn’t been linear. I’ve stepped away from it at different points in my life, but as I’ve gotten older and, more importantly, gotten to know myself better, I’ve realized that art is where I feel most connected to who I am. A few years ago, I slowly started dipping my toes back into the art scene when I participated in El Velorio, a local Dia De los Muertos event produced by artist Antonio Pelayo that includes an art show. Being part of that show really reconnected me with my love of creating, but unexpectedly, it also introduced me to something more; my love and appreciation for artists.

There is something incredibly special to me about connecting with people who are willing to share their emotions, experiences and perspectives through their work. I’ve had the opportunity to meet incredible artists, learn from them, connect with them and be inspired by their stories and art. through all of this, I’ve found that I’m not only learning, improving and evolving as an artist, but also growing as a person.

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?
It hasn’t always been smooth. Moving to Houston was really hard on me, I grew up in a household with an alcoholic and abusive stepfather, which motivated me to leave home at a young age and learn how to take care of myself. A lot of what I struggled with, shaped the person I became. I grew up in a Latino family, and especially for the generation I come from, things like depression, emotional struggles, or even having complaints weren’t talked about or tolerated. Our parents didn’t necessarily believe that children’s feelings needed to be considered. You were expected to be grateful, work hard, and keep going. For a long time, I thought I had developed a strong and independent spirit, and while I come from a family of hardworking people, I eventually realized that what I thought was independence was actually survival. It was learning not to rely on anyone but myself. As I’ve gotten older, Ive had to unravel some of those beliefs in my own life.

That realization helped me understand why, for a period of my life, I moved away from art. I chose the security of a well paying job and benefits over something I was passionate about. Becoming a parent changed a lot of things for me. Raising my own children gave me the opportunity to unlearn some of the things I grew up believing, to be gentler with them, gentler with myself and with people in general. When I look back now, I see that my very joyful, colorful childhood, followed by an adolescence that put me in survival mode were both important experiences that serve a purpose on this path I’m on. I can take all the hardship and the tenderness and create something beautiful with what’s inside of me and in a way, that’s what my art is, a place where all of those parts of my story can exist.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an artist, a poet and a writer. Writing stories about my life and creating poetry are where my heart feels most at home. one of the projects I’m most passionate about is a collection of short stories called My life in chanclas. These are little pieces my childhood and teenage years, growing up in a Mexican household, stories filled with memories, humor, lessons, mistakes and the moments that helped shape me.

I’m especially proud of how I’ve grown, not only as a writer but also as a painter. I’ve been fortunate to surround myself with people who genuinely want to see me grow creatively. Their kindness, encouragement, and willingness to offer constructive criticism have helped me become more confident in my work and more open to learning.

I’m not sure there is one thing that sets me apart from other artists. Perhaps my willingness to share all of it, the falls and the triumphs, the mistakes and the progress, the things I’m still learning and the things I’ve overcome. I don’t want to hide the imperfect parts of my journey. I want them to be part of my story. I think my greatest gift is my vulnerability. It allows me to create from a place that is honest and deeply personal. Through my writing, poetry and art, I hope to connect with others by reminding them that there is beauty in being a work in progress.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see the creative world becoming more connected to technology, but I also believe that will make the human touch even more valuable. As A.I. and digital tools continue to grow, I think people will seek out art that feels authentic, personal and comes from real human experience.

I’m hopeful stories, poetry and art that come from the heart will continue to create connection and remind us of what makes us human. For me, there will always be something special about sharing a piece of yourself and having someone else see themselves in it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Lolajbird – is for my art. My.life.in.chanclas – is my stories and poetry