LA HG JAN 28

Fallon Aurielle

“Well, I’ve always felt like styling was in my blood—it’s something I’ve been passionate about from a very young age. I started working in fashion when I was just 16, becoming a wardrobe and fashion stylist. At that age, I was fortunate enough to land a job at Detroit’s renowned boutique, The Broadway. It was an incredible experience because I got to develop my styling skills in a high-end environment, and soon after, local celebrities, athletes, and high-profile talents began seeking me out. Read more>>

Elizabeth Beristain

I often get asked how my journey as a photographer started, and I guess the simplest way to put it is that it all came together naturally, like pieces of a puzzle. I was born in Mexico City to a Portuguese father and a Mexican mother, so from the very beginning, I was surrounded by diverse influences. Art, culture, and creativity were always part of my world. But it wasn’t until I picked up a camera thanks to my mom that I realized how deeply I wanted to connect with the world through my own lens. I went to school to Escuela Activa de Fotografia in Mexico City and my first job was at Periodico Reforma as a staff photographer where I had the chance to meet so many interesting people. I eneded up photographing a Mexican Director of Photography already established in Hollywood. I landed in LA for love initially and this year will be 23 years of living in beautiful Los Angeles and both my personal life and my professional life has been transformed and evolved. Being a freelance photographer all my life has been the most rewarding and most liberating form of life. Read more>>

Catalina Perez

A little bit of my story. My trip on fashion started since I was very young, I always wanted to wear something that no one was wearing it even when I was a little little kid and my mom always encouraged me and my siblings to find our own way, our own things that we like or not since we were little. She’s also used to take me and my siblings to the thrift stores in Chile, where I come from and at those stores most of that clothes comes from the US and you were able to find one of a kind pieces and different trends for a very affordable price. So she let us surfing through those big clothes mountains to find our treasures. That’s was when I felt in love with the idea of find myself and identify myself through the clothes that I wear. Read more>>

Tiffany Chao

Like many designers who transitioned into jewelry design, I couldn’t find the pieces I wanted to wear, so I began researching and building connections in downtown LA to create pieces for myself. I was also fortunate to have a chic, cosmopolitan mother who introduced me to the world of jewelry from a young age. Originally from Hong Kong, she taught me how to distinguish superior jade, identify prize pearls, and understand the meanings and symbolism behind various pieces of jewelry. Read more>>

Burçin Aktükün

My passion for music started at a very young age, guided by my mother, who was a music teacher. At the age of 6, I began playing the soprano recorder. Later, I explored various instruments such as the trumpet, classical guitar, and violin. In the 1990s, I started performing on stage with my guitar, but I quickly realized that my real interest lay not in being on stage but in the production side of music. This realization led me to dive into the world of music technologies. Read more>>

Dara Legard

I started my journey back in Indiana, at 8 months old where I began my modeling, acting, and dancing career. As I grew older, I move to Gerogia and finally started my own company, A Yella Moment of Movements. Fast forward to now, where I moved to Los Angeles, CA and now I am utilizing everything together and adding more to my business. I now do dog grooming and started my career as a music artist. Read more>>

Anthony Perez

Stackdhousela came from the idea of creating a stacked lineup of djs who play house genres ranging from house,tech house, bass house, slap house, funky house and so on pretty much everything and anything house is played at our events. Growing up i played sports and really enjoyed basketball and wanted to find something personal to connect with the idea of Stackdhousela and as a kid one of my favorite players was Jerry Stackdhouse and as an athlete gameday we come to play and as djs we also come to play if that makes you have an idea of how Stackdhousela came to be Read more>>

Grace Song

What an incredible journey this has been! My story began during my college years, volunteering with the Korean American Chamber of Commerce in Los Angeles (KACCLA), a dynamic organization dedicated to fostering community and business development. This experience introduced me to the fast-paced world of events, from formal meetings and high-profile conferences to lavish galas and celebrations. Working alongside some of the most influential business leaders and politicians in the nation gave me invaluable insights into the art of planning and executing events that leave lasting impressions. Read more>>

Kimberly Santillana

I was always the kid with an old soul, the one who admired vintage clothes and old films and spooky, weird films and things. At 3-4 years old I knew I loved being in front of the camera and modeling, my parents would take pictures of me and I’d be posing as if I knew how to professionally model. My father put me in modeling and acting classes when I was a pre-teen and I loved it. It was during high school when I started taking pictures and after a couple years of working, I started purchasing vintage dresses and clothing and started posting them and tagged my favorite vintage brand and that’s when the brand owner from pinupgirlclothing noticed me and messaged me and that’s when I started modeling for her and I modeled for her for five years and I’ve been able to get more modeling opportunities and collaborations because of her and I’ll always be grateful and have so much love for her. Read more>>

Tanya Zaman

Hello Voyage LA readers, I’m Tanya. I got started here in LA 9 years ago, working as a VFX artist on movies like Star Wars the Force Awakens, 10 Cloverfield Lane, and Star Trek Beyond. I then transitioned to working at FOX in post, and not shortly after, took the plunge to become a full-time freelance artist. The bulk of my freelance work is illustration and storyboards for advertising, theatrical marketing campaigns, and VR gaming. Read more>>

Rogelio Nieto

I began my career in Guadalajara, Mexico, in search of an artistic voice that would allow me to express what I think and feel in a fun way while impacting a wider audience. Fortunately, I was able to achieve this through acting, and after living in Guadalajara and Mexico City, I am now in L.A. following the voice of my imagination to tell stories that are meaningful to me and my community. Read more>>

Anastasiia Lisenko

Hi, Voyage LA! My name is Anastasiia, and I’m a photographer and director from Ukraine, passionate about storytelling through visuals. I discovered my love for photography at age 15, creating shoots with friends in my small hometown and drawing inspiration from films. Over time, this passion grew into a career working with Ukrainian artists and brands, creating photo and video campaigns, and directing music videos in Kyiv. Read more>>

Noah Garcia

It all really started at Rio Hondo Community College in Whittier. I had already tried several different majors and was – to be totally frank- floundering. On a whim, I joined a writing class, which eventually lead to working for the schools newspaper “El Paisano’. From then on I traversed the world of storytelling ; learning to write, edit, and shoot on different subjects for print and online publications. It was there my greatest, and most challenging, love was cultivated, that being photography. After graduating, I attended classes at CSU Long Beach and developed my craft even more. Read more>>

King Aiden

My story has always involved music! I started playing drums, then piano, guitar, bass, baritone, alto saxophone, was in drumline in high school and also did jazz band. I have had meetings at Warner Music Group in Nashville, TN, with a producer at 16 years old that sent me The Abbott Agency for 2 years of artist development. I then landed a music video I am in on TobyMac’s “Feel It” song that has over 36 million views. Read more>>

Lucretia Tye Jasmine

With wild interests and an inclination to rage against the machine with a flair that might just equal the groupies and musicians who fascinate me, I’m a Los Angeles-based artist and writer born in Boston, MA and raised in Louisville, KY. Read more>>

Jack Cohen

For a long time, I wanted to be an architect. My grandfather was an architect, and I loved building models with him. I was fascinated by the intersection of design and engineering. I was a STEM kid in middle and high school and loved engineering and physics. I would make silly little James Bond spoofs and short films with my friends in our backyards, but I didn’t think that would ever lead to anything. Then, I picked up photography in my junior and senior years of high school and saw the world through an entirely new lens. In addition to that, I took a cinema studies class taught by the late and great Ted Walch, which changed my brain chemistry and led me down the path of making and consuming film. Read more>>

Naomi Griffin

I was drawing my whole life! Ever since I could remember really. I’m sure the drive came from enjoyment initially, but as I grew, it turned into an escape from life at home. Read more>>

Amanda Peixoto-elkins

I was born and raised in Brazil and moved to the U.S. as an international student, where I eventually met my husband, an Angelino. After the birth of our children, I felt a strong desire to not only be a mom to them but also a role model. I had a background in modeling before moving to the U.S. and have always had a natural eye for photography. One day, I thought, “Why not combine these passions?” I didn’t formally study art or photography in college, everything I know, I’ve taught myself while raising my kids. It wasn’t an easy journey, but it was worth every challenge. Read more>>

Myles

At 15, I hit the stage for the first time and instantly knew I belonged there. Performing and connecting with the audience gave me an unmatched energy. In 2022, a major milestone in my career was a European tour, which solidified my role as a frontman. Read more>>

Jay Saturn

How’s it goin folks? I have been traveling around the country telling folks about my music and performing sets for about twenty years now. Gotten into some WILD situations lol spent tons of time in NYC, Texas, Philly, Atlanta, Honolulu and lived 3 yrs in Miami. I’m the oldest of 9 and have been like a dad my whole life. I have given the best of me on the stage and in my everyday routine during some of the most trying times in my life. Having to keep promoting and performing with a smile on my face after my mother’s passing would be one of my toughest and most memorable acts of showmanship. Also having to continue the rest of my bartending shift after finding out that my best friend of 20 years didn’t make it out of the coma…another tough feat. Life hasn’t always been fair to me but no matter how hard it gets, I lift myself up and keep going. Not gonna lie…sometimes I have moments where I feel like I’m running out of steam…but then I pull it together and charge forward. I had nothing left to lose so I got up and moved to LA to give it one last shot. Now I try to navigate the underground scene while I work 2 jobs, deal with the everyday drama and try to maintain some SEMBLANCE of a social life. It will all be worth it when my catalog finally catches like fire and I’ll be able to leave my mark on the scene. Read more>>

Annie Toufic

I started having premonitions 20 years ago as a teenager, but my journey accepting my psychic gifts didn’t start to unfold till 2018 during a stint as a hairdresser. At the time I was dating a writer who affectionately nicknamed me ‘Baby Oracle’ because of my innate ability to give him insight or clarity about buisness meetings, others intentions, or manifesting results for certain jobs he was up for. In 2019 I suddenly became very ill, and allergic to everything at the hair salon I worked at. I abruptly had to stop working in a career I had done for almost a decade and was extremely passionate about. During this time I became so ill I was mostly bedridden for a mysterious autoimmune reaction, and after almost a year was diagnose with MCAS, Asthma, POTS, and severe food allergies. Read more>>

Cesar D’ La Torre

Cesar is a Latin European Actor and Martial Artist whose career spans both English and Spanish markets, D’ La Torre has worked on movies, TV series, and Video Games like Angry Neighbors opposite the legendary Academy Award Actors Frank Langella, and Stockard Channing, Immortality who was nominated for 7 BAFTA Awards and Won for Best Narrative, the action film Muna centered around a confrontation between Italian and Nigerian mafia gangs. The film Heavy Duty Lovers is a romantic comedy that stars Eric Roberts, Black Easter a Sci-Fi Movie about a group of young geniuses who accidentally stumble upon a secret terrorist plot to create a time machine to go back in time and change history and more. Read more>>

Lauren Margallo

Since my early days on Instagram, my best friend and I would go on adventures in every city we visited or lived in, always searching for the coolest spots. This passion for exploration, especially as a foodie, continued throughout my life. One of my videos unexpectedly went viral, and that’s when I realized I could truly combine my passion for food and music with my experience of social media marketing. From that point on, I’ve been consistently posting almost daily for the past two years. Somewhere along the way, the moniker ‘LA Hot Girl’ emerged, though I can’t quite pinpoint its origin – it might have started as a TikTok comment. Read more>>

Brian T. Arnold

I wanted to write and make movies and television before I understood what that meant. When I was in elementary school, I wrote letters to Fox about how my friends and I should be the next Power Rangers. In middle school, I entered a short story contest with a sequel to the Naked Gun franchise. When I was 14, I wrote my first screenplay. Most people would have called it fan fiction, but I genuinely believed I had a shot at getting hired for X-Men 2. But, as it turned out, the studio was looking for someone with a little more experience and who wasn’t a freshman in high school. Read more>>

 Juliet Sea Chen

Aces Wilder has been a transformative journey not just for the men we serve but also for us as founders. My co-founder, Jenny Zhang, and I grew up as childhood best friends in the Midwest and later moved to NYC, where we built careers in finance – myself in Real Estate Private Equity, and Jenny in corporate banking. By day, we climbed the corporate ladder, but by night, we thrived in the music and dance culture of concerts, festivals, and raves. Read more>>

Ivan

I was born in the Soviet Union and during the Cold War, my parents took the biggest of risks in bringing our family to the United States. After High School I spent many years learing the art of filmmaking, concluding my three college education with a Bachelor Degree in Cinematography and Motion Picture from World Acclaimed Brooks Institute of Photography. Upon my graduation I was awarded the President’s Award being the 51st winner in the school’s 50 year history. Read more>>

Stefano Profeta

Professionally I’ve always been busy. Since my early days studying at the Drama Academy in Rome, right after high school, I’ ve worked in theatre, as a print model for brands like Dolce and Gabbana, Hugo Boss; I’ve been in tv commercials for Subaru, tv shows in Italy, I’ve lived between Rome and Milan until I was 24 years old and then moved in Los Angeles in 2012. Here in Los Angeles I kept the craft going taking actor studio’s classes, as well as master classes at the Ivana Chubbuck studio. Also I am a professional martial artist, specifically in the disciplines of Karate Shotokan, Jun Fan Gung Fu, MMA and Jeet Kune do, so as you can see, even phisically I am never at rest, always trying to keep my craft and my body in shape, as well as my mind. Read more>>

Daniel Palmer

Growing up on the sunny shores of Perth, Western Australia I began Hairdressing at the age 0f 14. I always had a passion for hair, and loved how it could transform people. With this passion I was qualified by the time I was 17, and moved to Melbourne at 18. Here I worked at Shibui, one of Australias most renowned salons, and at 21 I moved to London with my eyes set on the global stage. Read more>>

 Lisa Greenfield

When I was thirteen, I dreamed of becoming a neurosurgeon. My fascination with the brain was profound. One day, my brother brought home a book on palmistry. Intrigued by the connection between the brain and the hand, I dove headfirst into the subject. I began reading every hand I could find, and to my delight, most people were eager to hear what I saw. When a math block, similar to dyslexia, derailed my premed aspirations, I poured all my energy into palmistry. Read more>>

Todd Jackson

This is going to sound like a resume, but I guess, my story started the moment I watched Jurassic Park as a kid and said, “Yeah. This is what I wanna do.” Since then, I never took my eye off that dream and now it seems that I’ve just about stumbled onto it. Read more>>

Guerin Swing

Guerin Swing’s Art is his interpretation of abstract expressionism and inspired by his background in street art, fine art and pop art. For over 3 decades Swing has come full circle in his art expression as a native Angelino. He is a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. His hands have touched every major restaurant and hotel in Los Angeles with his permanent artistic installations and his Art is displayed at Galleries and Public Spaces across the country. Read more>>

Dionisio Burgos

My name is Dionisio Burgos, but I go by LuminousViews. Storytelling has always been a passion of mine—whether through words or imagery. Writing allows me to bring the stories in my mind to life, while photography feels like second nature a way to create moments that can stay with someone forever. Read more>>

Romi Cortier

I came to Hollywood to be in actor in the early 1990’s, leaving behind a very successful salon career in Seattle. Six years of acting classes turned out to be the perfect place to meet new clients, such as Sharon Lawrence, Leslie Bibb, Teri Polo, Rosa Blasi, Jessica Steen, and June Lockhart to name a few. I left the acting world in 2000 and enrolled in UCLA’s prestigious Interior Design Program. In 2001 I put my new found skill set to work and opened my own boutique hair salon on Larchmont Boulevard, which let me combine my love of Interior Design, with my ever growing roster of cut and color clients. My next design chapter took me to Palm Springs where I bought and renovated several homes as a weekend hobby, filling them with my original oil paintings and intriguing wall murals. I documented the mural makeovers, which garnered me over two million views on YouTube. When I met my future husband Recio Young in 2014, who worked in Reality TV, we combined our skill sets to create our own TV Pilot ‘Artful Living’. The show’s concept explored 120 years of design and how it’s relevant to the world today, by exploring the major design movements of the 20th Century. We were married in Venice, Italy at the Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal in 2019. We filmed the entire event for both a documentary and a sizzle reel. I designed the entire wedding in 9 months with bespoke tablecloths, art pillows and chinoiserie tuxedos. My continued Love of Design and Art has culminated in a new found position in politics, by serving as the Business Representative for the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, as well as being a board member for the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA). I recently created a Legacy Bench Program for the LBA and partnered with the Larchmont Village BID which is purchasing matching trash cans, both in a chic French Blue which we hope will become Larchmont’s signature color. My salon turned 24 this January, and I’m so grateful for the community that I’ve found in Los Angeles. Read more>>

Julio Romano

I started in the 90s in west Hollywood working with Alt Rock Bands and living the Rock n Roll life style working 7days a week it never began or ended it was and endless haze of salon/studio calls /photo shoots and videos .and television LA never stops moving I am a workaholic it feeds constantly, 12 years ago I opened an Alt Rock salon with deep punk queer and ethnic roots most of our stylists are Natives as am I so we are properly interpreting the region and properly serving the neighborhood we also do community events House Less and gender affirming haircuts for people who need help , giving back to the community is a big part of who we are and what we do Read more>>

Josh Mitchell

My filmmaking journey began many moons ago when I directed Roid Rage, a zombie action film born in Boston. Determined to make my mark, I ventured to the Sundance Film Festival to promote it, immersing myself in the art of navigating the festival circuit and connecting with some of the most influential players in Hollywood. Read more>>

Anat Stigers

A native from the San Fernando Valley, Ca I started gymnastics at the age of 5 years old. At the age of 8 years old is when I tried dance and fell in love at a studio called “Carousel Dance Studio”. I started training in tap and then quickly started adding ballet, jazz, hip hop and musical theater. Although I was a shy child, the love of dance truly opened me up, which led me out of my shell around the age of 12 years. This is when I started becoming a competitive dancer as well. I basically lived at my dance studio training 6 days a week for a minimum of 3 hours a day! Read more>>

Sage Feliciano

I’m Sage Feliciano. Since the day I was born dealing with a lot of medical issues all stemming from kidney failure. It led me to being on and off dialysis my whole life till 2020, It resulted in me having 4% of my vision, to have 94 medical surgeries throughout my life,countless hospitalizations and much more. I never let that keep me from doing what I am passionate about. The camera expands my vision. My eyesight is extremely limited with being blind in my left eye and ninety-six percent damage to the other. It left me four percent of my vision. Which my doctors have said is like looking through a straw but very sharp. Which is how I am able to do photography. I started photography basically out of circumstance. I moved to Chicago in the summer before my sophomore year of high school and this year I got assigned “year book” as a class. At the time of moving to Chicago my third kidney transplant was failing. That meant I was at the height of my medical issues and rarely in school. Luckily the teacher of “Year Book” Mr.Chau knew me and the circumstances I was dealing with. So he told me to take photos for the yearbook and that will be my grade. That’s what I did. I went around Chicago and took photos of the city,events and artists around the city when I got the chance. Since then I just never really stopped. Read more>>

Anisa Johnson

Dance is something that started as a childhood interest and developed into my career and more importantly, my passion. Having started at age four, dance was my first love. As a child, any moment I was not in school, I was at the studio, training for upcoming competitions and exploring the techniques of tap, contemporary, modern, jazz, hip hop, and ballet. Going into higher education for the arts at UC Irvine was a long held aspiration of mine. Read more>>

 Jiaying Qu

I started my career as an architectural designer with a Bachelor of Architecture, followed by a Master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP). I got a strong interest in architectural and furniture design since my childhood. My journey began with a vision in design installations and vintage furniture, which has shaped my unique approach to blending modern sensibilities with timeless aesthetics. Read more>>

Mia Cesario

My artistic journey began when I was a kid, scribbling with crayons on colorful sheets of paper, much like everyone else at that age. But I never stopped wanting to draw. Art became a form of escapism for me, especially during middle school, and helped me cope with the copious challenges of becoming a human being! Read more>>

Deepicka Mehta

Deepicka Mehta Photography began with a simple yet profound love for storytelling through the lens. From the very first camera click, we were captivated by the power of photography to freeze fleeting moments and turn them into timeless memories. What started as a passion project quickly evolved into a thriving business, fueled by a deep commitment to capturing love stories in their purest, most authentic form. Read more>>

Amina Naeem

Urban Punjab is more than just a restaurant; it’s the culmination of two passionate individuals’ dedication to authentic flavors, community connection, and exceptional dining experiences.Read more>>

Linda Rodriguez

My journey began in a completely different world: the legal field. I started as a calendar clerk and legal assistant then worked my way up to head of billing. For years, I balanced the grind of a steady job while feeling a creative spark inside me that was just waiting to be unleashed. In 2017, during a conversation with my dad, I discovered my fascination with lash extensions. It felt like a calling—a way to combine artistry with my desire to make others feel confident and beautiful. Read more>>

Brittany Sherman

17 years ago I began my career in floristry and event design the old-school way, apprenticing for a floral shop where my primary job was washing the flower buckets. I rose through the ranks of floral studios across SoCal, where I became a lead floral designer. In 2017, I began Crimson Floral Co. to commit to habitat-friendly practices that put living things first and prioritize seasonal florals, local sourcing, and ethical botanicals arranged with care & character. Read more>>

Aisha Habib

My journey in public relations began during college when I interned at various organizations in Los Angeles around 2014. Immersing myself in the entertainment industry, I quickly learned the intricacies of publicity and the fast-paced world behind the scenes. While I gained invaluable insights and hands-on experience, I soon realized that entertainment alone wasn’t my true passion- I wanted my work to have a deeper impact. Read more>>

Amber Kitayama

I started Creamii Art when I was 14 .. 15ish. “technically”It wasn’t called that back then. It was just my art and ideas. I already knew what I wanted to do in life but wasn’t really sure on how the journey was going to play out. I was planning my goals, and brainstorming for my brand all in highschool but it wasn’t easy and none of this came until I had a breakdown and got diagnosed with anxiety and depression, which made things for lack of better words challenging. Despite feeling exhausted, lost and out of my mind. It felt that I harnessed that chaos and created something magical. During this period is when I also started to have really vivid dreams which I started writing down and eventually turned it into my art which is what you see today. Read more>>

Herbert Morales

First & foremost, thank you for taking the time to ask me these questions to get to know me & my story. I always loved watching movies at home or going to the movie theatre & then coming home going on Youtube watching BTS of how that movie was made (I still do that till this day). I grew up watching movies like Zorro, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective & Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Happy Gilmore & Batman with Michael Keaton Jack Nicholson. I was always intrigued by the filmmaking process but never in a million years thought I would be an actor. I’m from Norwalk, CA but grew up in Victorville, CA which is an hour & a half from Los Angeles. In high school, I had a friend who I sat next to in anatomy class everyday & one night I was watching iCarly at home & randomly saw her in the background of a scene dancing next to Miranda Cosgrove. The next day I saw her in class I was like, “Dude! How the hell did you get that gig on iCarly??” She proceeded to tell me how she does background work in LA from time to time. I was extremely interested but knew my parents wouldn’t have time to take me all the way to Los Angeles to film aside from me doing my schoolwork, taking me to basketball practice, games & tournaments. Read more>>

Herbert Morales

First & foremost, thank you for taking the time to ask me these questions to get to know me & my story. I always loved watching movies at home or going to the movie theatre & then coming home going on Youtube watching BTS of how that movie was made (I still do that till this day). I grew up watching movies like Zorro, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective & Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Happy Gilmore & Batman with Michael Keaton Jack Nicholson. I was always intrigued by the filmmaking process but never in a million years thought I would be an actor. I’m from Norwalk, CA but grew up in Victorville, CA which is an hour & a half from Los Angeles. In high school, I had a friend who I sat next to in anatomy class everyday & one night I was watching iCarly at home & randomly saw her in the background of a scene dancing next to Miranda Cosgrove. The next day I saw her in class I was like, “Dude! How the hell did you get that gig on iCarly??” She proceeded to tell me how she does background work in LA from time to time. I was extremely interested but knew my parents wouldn’t have time to take me all the way to Los Angeles to film aside from me doing my schoolwork, taking me to basketball practice, games & tournaments. Read more>>

Julia Holding

I embarked on my photography journey in 2012, initially capturing the magic of weddings. It wasn’t long before my brides began requesting boudoir shoots, as they were drawn to my unique style. Their enthusiasm and referrals fueled my passion for boudoir photography, especially in empowering women to embrace their beauty. Read more>>

Esther Jeong

My fascination with pottery began at a young age. One of my earliest memories is watching my mom take out Korean cheongja dining wares for special occasions. There was something so special about those pale blue-green pieces, beautiful yet functional, deeply tied to tradition. Read more>>

Sara Hassan Khani

The form of art I had access to as a child was the picture books my dad used to read to me. At the time, we were living in a very small city in Iran without museums or galleries, so those books became my first exposure to art. My dad and I would look at the illustrations together, and I often found myself wondering, “Who created these?” That curiosity sparked something in me. His love for painting and my fascination with both literature and illustration laid the foundation for my passion for art. Read more>>

Kelly Guedes

I began my photography journey at 17 in Los Angeles while pursuing my associate’s and bachelor’s degrees. It was during this time that I discovered my passion for capturing timeless moments through photography. After relocating to Savannah, GA, I earned my master’s degree in Film & Television. I have since returned to Los Angeles, where I continue to grow my business, connect with new people, and expand my expertise. Read more>>

Eric Rivera

My name is Eric Rivera, and I am a freelance comic book artist based in Southern California. My work explores retro and old-school horror-fantasy themes of the likes of EC and Warren comic art. Currently, I live in a tiny Redondo Beach apartment drawing a 26-page comic book about a Viking. Read more>>

Nyrelle Razonable

It all started when I accidentally tweezed too much of my eyebrows at 15 years old, I over plucked so much, I ended up creating little stubby eyebrows. I was so mortified by what I had done, I went to my mom’s makeup bag and grabbed her eyebrow pencil to learn how to draw in my brows. This was in the midst of the iconic 2016-2018 YouTube makeup era, so of course I ended up grabbing the Anastasia eyebrow pomade because that was what everyone was obsessing over at the time. I, too, was a victim of the “dark block eyebrows with no other makeup” trend back then, but we all learn from the past. Read more>>

Salma Nasrollah

In 2020, I moved from Morocco to a new country during the pandemic. By late 2021, I decided to take my career as a Hair and Makeup Artist to the next level. In 2022, I got pregnant and gave birth in September 2022 and returned to taking clients just two months later, balancing motherhood while building my business. Read more>>

Kalichi Lamar

I would like to begin my story by honoring the matriarchs of my family; the women who planted deep roots within me. These roots include the men who raised and protected me. Together, these wonderful men and women taught me to never forget who I am or where I come from. I was birthed on a dormant volcano, a small island we know today as Borikén (Puerto Rico). To further tie me to the land, I was given the name Kalichi, which is Indigenous-Taino for “fountain of the high mountain.” The beginnings of my childhood were surrounded by mountains and the sea; vital aspects that would impact my future work. As a young child coming to the U.S. and learning English as a second language, my imagination and creativity are what helped me get through many challenges. I was known as a daydreamer. Unknowingly, these gifts would help me get through the most difficult times in my life, as well as influence my future as an artist and healing arts practitioner. Read more>>