We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brenda Chen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Brenda, thanks for joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Yes, I do earn a full-time living from my creative work. Back in college, my main goal was to make sure I graduated with a job lined up so that I could move out of my parent’s house. I was particularly fascinated by virtual and augmented reality and how I could merge art with technology to create immersive experiences. That passion, paired with my desire to be independent, led me to dedicate all my free time to building personal projects outside of school. Once I finished those projects, I started exhibiting them at various game and tech conventions like Indiecade and VRLA. This helped me land internships and, eventually, a full-time job after graduation. Over time, I kept building my portfolio and gaining more experience which led me to where I am now. I’m really lucky that I get to continue working in the creative space today.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve always had a deep love for art, which started with drawing alongside my dad at the kitchen table. That early experience sparked a passion for visual storytelling that only grew over time. Along with my love for art, I was also a huge music fan. I spent a lot of my teens drawing my favorite musicians and translating their energy into visuals. This led me to attend a high school summer camp at CalArts where I was first introduced to animation, inspiring me to pursue it further in college.

During my first year at USC, I had an experience that changed the course of my creative journey. I accidentally stumbled into a virtual reality lab and tried VR for the first time. It blew me away. I realized I could blend my traditional art background, my passion for music, and new technology to create immersive experiences that transport people into entirely new worlds. That moment opened the door to everything I’m exploring now.

Today, I’m an immersive media director and XR artist with a background in VR/AR development, gaming, concert visuals, and virtual performances. Over the years, I’ve built experiences that range from interactive installations and real-time visuals for live shows to fully immersive digital worlds. My work is rooted in a love for combining art, technology, and music to create emotionally resonant, boundary-pushing experiences that invite people to connect, play, and see the world a little differently.

I thrive in hybrid spaces where creativity and problem-solving meet. My role often shifts depending on the project—I might be leading creative direction, designing and animating 3D environments, developing visual systems for live performances, or consulting with clients to help shape their vision and identify the right tools, workflows, and collaborators to bring it to life.

Because of my broad skillset, I’ve had the chance to work with a wide range of clients—from musicians like Justin Bieber and John Legend to brands like Meta and Verizon. I genuinely enjoy moving across mediums and disciplines. Whether I’m deep in a Blender scene, VJing at a show, or sketching out a concept for an interactive experience, that constant shift keeps me engaged and evolving as an artist.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn perfectionism and the idea that my success was tied to my reputation or what others think. I used to believe everything I made had to be flawless to be taken seriously, but as I progressed in my career and transitioned into more corporate roles I started to burn out. I realized that perfectionism and focusing solely on meeting a bottom line kills the joy in art and stifles innovation. I slowly lost the drive to create, and though it was difficult, had to admit to myself that despite all the “success” I had achieved, I wasn’t truly feeling fulfilled. Finally after years of pushing myself nonstop, I took a break last summer to reconnect with my inner artist. In that time of reflection I realized that I had forgotten what art had always been about for me — play — the very thing that fueled my passion in the first place. Once I allowed myself to rest, let go of the pursuit of perfection, and embraced experimentation, the ideas started to flow once more and I felt like my true creative self again.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

As an artist, my mission has always been to create experiences that spark joy, awe, and wonder. When I was a kid, I spent hours drawing silly characters, writing stories, and dreaming up vast magical worlds filled with endless adventures. Growing up wasn’t always easy, and I turned to these creative outlets as a way to escape. Over time I became deeply fascinated with art as a form of therapy and escapism. In a world that can feel heavy and dark, I want my art to offer a sense of lightness and fun. My goal is to give people a break from it all — even if just for a moment — to help them laugh, smile, and forget the weight of the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brendachenart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatedtrash/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-chen-59b52b105/

Image Credits

Miguel Gonzalez, Kelly Chen, Nick Kubeck, Seena Akita