We were lucky to catch up with Shanelle Julia Rosita recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shanelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

Before realizing I was an artist, I had several careers along the way. One of them was working in the entertainment industry for the Brooklyn Nets. I was the liaison between the season ticket holders and their experience with the team. After resigning, I kept in touch with many of my clients. Those same clients would attend my exhibitions and cheer me on as I pivoted. In the early stages, I was only exhibiting prints, operating from a place of scarcity. Within the last year, I have worked through this fear and allowed myself to share original work with the world. One of my season ticket holders purchased my first original hand drawing at the asking price! He specifically wanted an original, not a copy. It taught me that my insecurities were holding me back from sharing my gifts with the world. Selling originals has created the momentum needed for me to be a better artist and business woman.

Shanelle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York to Jamaican parents. My sister is 17 years older than me, which created more of an only child experience. I was taught to be a perfectionist, leaning into the nuances and crutches that came with it. It wasn’t a surprise that comparing myself to other artists at the age of 16 would feel debilitating. I made the impromptu decision to quit, discard my portfolio and block out all memories of my creative history. That decision took me down a long, convoluted path filled with varying careers, unhealthy relationships and lots of lessons that would shape me as the artist I am today. On my birthday in 2020, I felt this undeniable urge to pick up a marker. That blissful moment unlocked a whirlwind of personal development including therapy, releasing and birthing anew. Today, I have a new mindset around art as a career. I am manifesting opportunities that require a strong confidence in my work. From exhibiting at Bergdorf Goodman to releasing a collaborative NFT project with Rarible and Moonbeam, I am moving in the right direction for myself artistically. Along the path to rediscovering my artistry, I developed an interest in interior design. My latest endeavor has been in offering art customization and curation services to designers, done with my partner-in-design, Amelia Lavalas (le terra curators). Stepping into utilizing creativity for business as well as on paper has been a new experience but a welcomed one. I know that continuing to share my story and my work with the world will only be beneficial to both myself and the collective.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

The Web3 world is a new landscape that encourages decentralization, adaptability and the destruction of the unhealthy, restrictive parts of the old paradigm. It has proven to be a great complement to the physical art world. My work and style have gotten great exposure, with my digital work showing everywhere from Portugal to Tokyo. I have been leveraging my relationships to create in-real-life opportunities for Art Basel 2024. Some artists are uncomfortable with the technological integration. I find that incorporating it opens more doors than it closes. I’m just happy to ride the wave of innovation.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the story of the starving artist. I grew up being told that art was just a hobby at most. It wasn’t something you could live off of. Thanks to the internet, I have watched other creatives shoot to the highest of heights with their art as their sole business. The World Wide Web has changed the game regarding access to potential collectors. I have the power to create a new reality for myself. It’s a beautiful time to be a creative business owner.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thehug.xyz/artists/shanellejuliarosita
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanellejuliarosita?igsh=dHNibm1weGV4YWNv&utm_source=qr
• Twitter: https://x.com/iamjuliarosita?s=21

Image Credits

Main image by Bleu Pablo
The photographer for the black and white photos was Louisa Bee (IG: https://www.instagram.com/louisabbee)