We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Antea Amoroso a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Antea, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
At the heart of my business is a simple yet meaningful mission: to create human connection through art. I believe in the power of personalization—not just as a way to make something beautiful, but as a way to transform everyday objects into cherished memories and frozen moments in time.
My story is rooted in my own journey. Growing up, I watched my mother, an incredibly talented artist, create stunning pieces that she kept to herself in her studio. I admired her work, but I also felt a sense of sadness that no one else could experience it. At the same time, I watched my father, a lawyer, use his talents to help others—advocating for people, solving problems, and making a tangible impact in their lives.
Looking back, I realize that the combination of both of them shaped who I am today. My mom showed me the beauty of creativity and self-expression, while my dad demonstrated the power of using your skills to serve others. That was when I made a promise to myself: I would create art, but I would also share it with the world in a way that connects with people and makes a forever impact.
Despite my passion, I was told early on in my High School guidance counselors office that art wasn’t a “real career.” That belief stuck with me for years, holding me back from pursuing my dreams. But when I started hand lettering wedding signs after my own wedding, something clicked. People weren’t just admiring my work—they were connecting with it. They wanted my signs at their weddings because those pieces carried meaning. That’s when I realized that art wasn’t just about the final product; it was about the experience and the emotions it evoked.
When COVID forced me to pivot my business, I launched Lettering for Love, a project where I hand-lettered storefront windows for free, simply to bring joy to people during a difficult time. That project reinforced something I had always felt: art has the power to bring people together, to create moments, and to make an impact.
As my business evolved into live personalization for events and brands, that mission remained the same—giving people a moment of joy, creating an experience that feels personal, and allowing art to be something they don’t just look at, but feel connected to. From engraving at the TD Garden during the Celtics championship run to painting 200 bottles for Coca-Cola executives, every project I take on is about more than just the craft. It’s about telling a story, preserving a moment, and making people feel seen.
For me, this is more than a business—it’s a passion, a purpose, and a promise I made to my younger self. My mission is to create meaningful, tangible memories through art, and to inspire others to trust in their own creativity, even when the path seems uncertain. Because when we create, connect, and share our gifts with the world, we turn ordinary moments into something extraordinary.
Antea, 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?
Hi, I’m Antea, the founder and artist behind Antea Amoroso Artistry—a business built on creativity, personalization, and human connection. My work blends live art, hand lettering, and engraving to create one-of-a-kind experiences for clients, brands, and event guests. Whether it’s engraving perfume bottles for a luxury brand activation, customizing keepsakes at a wedding, or painting a sentimental piece for someone’s home, my goal is always the same: to turn ordinary objects into lasting, meaningful memories.
My journey into this industry wasn’t a straight path. In fact, I never thought I could make a career out of art. Growing up, I was surrounded by two very different but equally inspiring influences—my mother, a gifted artist who kept her work to herself, and my father, a lawyer who used his skills to help others. The combination of both of them shaped who I am today. My mom instilled in me a deep love for creativity, while my dad showed me the importance of using your talents to serve people.
For years, I believed that art was just a hobby—not something I could build a career around. It wasn’t until after my own wedding, when I designed and created custom signs for my big day, that I realized the power of personalization. Friends and family started asking if they could borrow my signs for their weddings, and that sparked an idea: what if I rented out wedding signage? At the time, this wasn’t something widely offered in the industry, so I took a chance and launched my own business.
At first, I was only working with people I knew, but through social media and word of mouth, it quickly grew. By 2020, I had 200 weddings booked for the year. Then, the pandemic hit, and every single event was canceled. I was devastated. My entire business came to a halt overnight.
But that challenge forced me to pivot—and ultimately, led me to where I am today.
When everything shut down, I launched a project called Lettering for Love, where I hand-lettered storefront windows for free just to spread joy in my community. The project gained traction, was picked up by news outlets, and even inspired other artists across the country to join in. That was the moment I realized that art had the power to connect people in ways I never imagined.
As I continued sharing my work on social media, I started exploring live engraving and experiential artistry—bringing my craft directly to people at events. I began cold-emailing brands and pitching myself through Instagram DMs, hoping someone would take a chance on me. That persistence led to my first major collaboration—with The Paper Store, where I engraved Stanley tumblers for their grand opening. The event was an overwhelming success, with three-hour-long lines and a request for me to return every weekend in December.
That momentum opened even bigger doors. One day, I received a request to engrave bottles in Boston, and when I checked the email address, it ended in “@celtics.com.” I turned to my husband, Dave, and said, “Do you think this is THE Celtics?!” Sure enough, I found myself engraving for the Boston Celtics’ top clients, and they now hire me often for events. Another door opened up a new opportunity to the TD Garden, where I was invited to engrave live throughout the Boston Bruins Playoff Series and Celtics’ championship playoff run. I had the surreal experience of watching them win the championship while engraving live—a full-circle moment for the girl who was once told art wasn’t a real career.
Another defining moment in my career was when Coca-Cola reached out and asked me to hand-paint 200 Coke bottles for their executives. At first, I doubted myself—I wasn’t a trained painter, and I thought, What if I’m not good enough? But I took the job, learned everything I could, and completed the project, proving to myself that growth comes from pushing past fear and self-doubt.
Today, I specialize in live art experiences, custom engraving, hand lettering, and painting, offering services that enhance events, weddings, and brand activations. My work creates a personal, hands-on experience that allows guests and clients to walk away with a tangible, meaningful keepsake.
What makes my business unique is that it’s not just about the final product—it’s about the experience. When I engrave or personalize something live at an event, it’s not just a transaction; it’s a moment. Guests get to watch their name or message come to life in real time, making it an unforgettable part of their special occasion.
Some of the services I offer include:
-Live Artistry for Events & Brand Activations – I engrave perfume bottles, liquor bottles, tumblers, glassware, and more on-site.
-Wedding Personalization – Live engraving experiences as favors for guests of the wedding
-Custom Hand-Lettered & Painted Pieces – Bespoke signage, denim jackets, ornaments, and keepsakes for any occasion.
-The Artistry Bar – a personalization experience for guests
The problem I solve for my clients is simple: I turn the generic into the meaningful. Whether it’s a brand looking to create a memorable customer experience or a couple wanting a personal touch at their wedding, I provide a level of customization that makes every piece feel unique and special.
More than the big-name brands I’ve worked with, what I’m most proud of is the community I’ve built through my art. I’ve connected with people across the country who have followed my journey, watched my business evolve, and supported me every step of the way. I’m proud that I took a risk on myself, that I didn’t let self-doubt win, and that I’ve been able to create a career that combines my love for art with my love for people.
I’m also incredibly proud of being able to inspire other artists and creatives. I know what it feels like to be told that art isn’t a real career. I know how scary it is to put yourself out there. And if my journey shows anything, it’s that there isn’t one set path to success.
If you take one thing away from my story, let it be this: your passions are worth pursuing. Whether you’re an artist, an entrepreneur, or someone who doesn’t quite know their path yet, trust that your journey will unfold in its own time.
I want my clients, followers, and fans to know that my work is about more than just personalization—it’s about connection, storytelling, and creating moments that matter. I believe that art has the power to turn ordinary things into something extraordinary, and I feel honored to bring that experience to people every day.
If you’re looking for a live art experience that will leave a lasting impression, a personal gift that tells a story, or a creative partner who truly values the meaning behind every piece—I’d love to connect with you.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
A moment of resilience—one that tested not just my adaptability, but my confidence. Coca-Cola reached out and asked me to hand-paint 200 bottles for their executives. I had never painted a coca cola bottle before. My immediate thought was, What if I’m not good enough? What if someone else could do this better?
But resilience isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about pushing forward, even when you doubt yourself. My husband, Dave, reminded me, “You’ve done so many things you thought you couldn’t do. You can absolutely paint these bottles.”
So I took the job. For three months, I taught myself techniques, created a detailed production schedule, and found a way to balance deadlines, family life, and personal well-being. In the end, I didn’t just complete the project—I proved to myself that fear and self-doubt don’t define what I’m capable of.
And that’s what resilience means to me. It’s not about everything going smoothly. It’s about trusting yourself, adapting to the unexpected, and finding opportunities in challenges.
From losing my wedding business overnight to reinventing my career, every step of my journey has been built on resilience. And looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing—because every challenge, every pivot, and every risk has led me to where I am today.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
One of the biggest misconceptions about being a creative entrepreneur is that it’s all about doing what you love and making pretty things. And while passion is a huge part of it, what many people don’t see is the constant mental battle—the self-doubt, the fear of the unknown, and the relentless pressure to innovate in a saturated market while staying true to yourself.
Creativity isn’t just about making art; it’s about problem-solving, adapting, and constantly proving your worth—to clients, to the industry, and sometimes even to yourself.
I think non-creatives might struggle to understand just how personal this journey is. When you build a business around your art, it’s not just a product or a service—it’s a piece of YOU. So when people copy your work/style/brand without giving credit, which happens quite often to me, when competitors undercut your pricing, or when big businesses try to lowball you because they don’t see the value in your time and talent, it’s not just frustrating—it’s disheartening.
But despite those struggles, I’ve always stayed authentic. My social media isn’t just a curated highlight reel of my successes—I share everything. The good, the bad, and the ugly. My business, behind the scenes and my family, showcasing how I balance it all. I talk about the moments when I’ve felt defeated, when I’ve questioned if I could keep going, and when I’ve had to fight to keep my business alive.
One of the hardest seasons of my life was when I found myself drowning in credit card debt to keep my business afloat. I was at a breaking point where I either had to close my doors or find a way out. So I did what I had to do—I worked every single day, straight, for 60 days, pushing myself harder than I ever had before. I engraved, painted, and created non-stop, and at the end of those two months, I paid off my debt and saved the business I worked so hard to build.
That moment taught me something powerful: no one is coming to save you—you have to save yourself. And that’s what being a creative entrepreneur is really about:
-Fighting for what you love, even when it feels impossible.
-Staying true to your value, even when people try to undercut you.
-Pushing past the fear of being copied or overlooked and continuing to innovate.
It’s exhausting to be in a space where you constantly have to create, inspire, and evolve just to keep up. But at the end of the day, what keeps me going is knowing that I built this business on my own terms, in my own way, and by being completely myself. You have to keep thinking ahead-you can’t create new ideas if you’re constantly looking back to protect the old ones. Instead, I channel my energy into pushing forward and continuing to innovate. The thing about turning your art into a career is that people don’t just connect with your art—they connect with you. Your personality, your story, and your unique perspective are what make your work truly special. No one can replicate that.
So if there’s one thing non-creatives can take away from this, it’s that this journey isn’t just about talent—it’s about resilience, perseverance, and staying unapologetically true to who you are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.anteaamoroso.com
- Instagram: @anteaamoroso
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anteaamorosodesign/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCebEgYD4ayJtkZyhrA8ipaA
Image Credits
Brit Perkins Photography