Often, those who tread off the beaten path are misunderstood or mischaracterized and so we asked folks from the community to reflect and tell us about the times they’ve been misunderstood or mischaracterized. 

Dakota Frandsen

I’d say both myself and my work have often been misunderstood. For myself personally; most wouldn’t think a 6’7′ 330lb bald man with a goatee was the type who prefers poetry, music, and writing in general over sports. Read More>>

Lourdes Leiner

I have moments in my creative career where my work often repelled members of the community. It created tension in my personal life. I soon learned the exact piece that repelled one attracted another with the same force. I soon channeled this into my creative practice and used this exact method to grow my career as an author. Read More>>

Rosie Babbitt

Telling people I’m an astrologer and intuitive psychic isn’t the easiest thing for me to share in small talk. There’s so many misconceptions that color someone’s view on my work before I can even get into explaining all the amazing experiences I’ve had pursuing this path. Read More>>

Ella Marisa

I think for a long time I’ve been underestimated and misunderstood. To a lot of people, I was just the “girl next door” -nothing special, just a nice, pretty girl. Not someone with an “it factor,” not someone who would really go anywhere. And growing up, that honestly made me really sad. Read More>>

Rossi Di Vino

When I first started out, people were quick to slap the ‘tech gimmick’ label on what I was doing. Critics dismissed Augmented Reality as just a novelty or a distracting trick—something that lacked the soul of traditional fine art. But for me, the digital layer was never about the bells and whistles; it’s a narrative extension of my art. Read More>>