We recently connected with Neo x Valerie Medina and have shared our conversation below.
Neo x Valerie, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Neo: Paint the City is a project that I’ve built here in Appleton, Wisconsin. It started in 2016 as a vision to paint as many murals as I could here in Appleton, Wisconsin. It grew into something much bigger than the mural itself. It became an epicenter of community and culture. This evolved out of my work in youth empowerment and advocacy in fusion with my background in public art and community engagement. Over the years I have worked alongside thousands of youth and community members to create many beautiful murals in North East Wisconsin. Officially, Paint the City grew legs as an initiative in 2022. We raised the money we needed to work with students to paint a 3000 sq ft mural over the course of 2 weeks. Since, we have ran this course for students in the Appleton Area School District every summer and are starting to prepare for our 4th summer of Paint the City.
Valerie: Project Purpose is a passion-driven initiative I founded with a deep commitment to supporting individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities. I understand that access to art and creative outlets in schools can be limited, which is why this project exists—to provide those opportunities. As we approach the third year of Project Purpose here in Appleton, we continue to bring art to life for students who may not otherwise have the chance to express themselves creatively.
Each year, we collaborate with students to design and paint a mural that reflects their identities and experiences. The mural often features students from the very classes we’re working with, turning their stories into vibrant, lasting art. This project not only advocates for these students but also creates a sense of place and belonging within the school community. It’s incredibly rewarding to watch these students beam with pride as they contribute to something meaningful for their school, and it offers a powerful reminder of the brilliance and potential in every individual.
I’m deeply proud to be part of a community that is embracing this work and fostering a culture of inclusion, creativity, and shared pride. Project Purpose is more than just art—it’s about building a foundation of belonging and making sure every student has the chance to shine.
Neo x Valerie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
We have been an artist duo since our junior year of college when we first started making collaborative work together. Nearly ten years later we have formally started our own business, Someday Studios, and we are really starting to see our vision and our dream come to life but that isn’t without many closed doors and lessons learned. Perhaps the biggest of all is resilience and patience. We are consistently pushing each other through critique and brainstorm. We are also supporting one another when we are met with challenge. We have learned that no rarely means no but rather not yet.
Our entry into this sector comes from an innate desire to create. We have both been creating since childhood so it was only fitting that when it came time for post secondary education art and creating was essential. Art has been a therapy and a way for us both to find voice to talk about our experiences and our hopes. Today, we use our platform to do a lot of transformative community work in the Fox Valley. We paint murals, create interactive art installations, teach classes and more. To be able to use art as a vehicle to shift narrative and drive discourse is an honor and something we are deeply proud of. We set ourselves apart from other artists by weaving community into the layers of our work. From paid student interns, idea generation, direct involvement in creating, and subject matter in our work; we aim to uplift and empower those around us that need it most.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Neo – Making it to where I am today is my story of resilience. Art saved my life. I grew up in generational cycles of poverty, addiction, and crime. By 19 I found myself kicked out of college and facing a felony. After a year and a half I reenrolled in college and began to take art seriously. For the first time I found that art was my voice to talk about my experiences and my relationship with the world around me. By the time I graduated college I had my felony expunged, I had won awards for my work and I started figuring out how to make my work take me beyond my college degree. Fast forward ten years and I have painted alongside thousands of people of all ages in my community. I have keynoted multiple events, speaking about art and advocacy and my role as an amplifer for those looking for their own voice. I have built multiple programs that change perception and bias through art and youth empowerment. I am honored to be carrying that torch in the Fox Valley and I am proud of my metamorphosis that has opened so many doors for art and advocacy.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Valerie – For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to communicate emotions, experiences, and ideas that might be hard to express with words. Art allows me to create a space where I can explore my own identity and voice, and at the same time, it connects me to others in a way that feels deeply personal yet universal. The moments when someone resonates with my work or sees something they hadn’t noticed before—it’s like a silent conversation between us. As a woman, there’s also an added layer of empowerment in navigating and challenging the traditional boundaries of art, finding room for my perspective in spaces where women artists have often been underrepresented. Ultimately, the act of creation itself is a form of both discovery and self-expression, and I find that balance incredibly fulfilling.
Contact Info:
- Website: NA
- Instagram: @somedaystudios_iv @_i.m.art_ @mind_2paper
- Facebook: NA
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irineo-medina-612092104/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-medina-429966b8/
- Twitter: NA
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfzMiTvvh7U
- Yelp: NA
- SoundCloud: NA