We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bridgett Rangel-Rexford. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bridgett below.

Hi Bridgett, thanks for joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

What has surprised me about goal achievements is that as I get older, my goals may have completely changed by the time I reach them. This flux of goals and interests is ongoing, which means I have to accept that what feels like success to me in my early 20s is not what feels like success to me now in my early 30s, and it probably will not feel like success later on. One consistency I count as success is the ability to adapt and meet myself where I am at any given time in my life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

When someone asks me how I got that gig or job, I always have a complex answer. I spent a lot of my youth networking and getting to know people in my community. This meant taking the bus after working in a Mexican restaurant full-time to go to every art show, and every creative gathering, and taking the time to ask people questions and learn about the creative community. Making friends and building trust in the creative world is just as important as accolades.

I also attended Community College at both Sacramento City College and Solano Community College. I also received departmental honors from UC San Diego wherein I received my B.A. in Art History/Theory & Criticism.

I am most proud of my resilience. It’s not easy striving in the creative industry. This takes a strong sense of self that admittedly has take a long time for me to develop. Building resilience has allowed me to become deeply familiar with the obstacles artists face in the visual arts industry, photography industry as well as marketing industry. Working with any creative in any capacity requires an understanding that every person is on their own creative journey and may need extra patience. While this is easier said than done it’s a necessary skill to help build community.

Going forward as both a Curator and Exhibitions Manager, I find that my soft skills as incredibly useful in day to day operations. You can’t learn everything you need to know in school. I enjoy working in this capacity because it allows me to interact with artists and art lovers which often means I meet with people who are constantly dreaming. I love contributing time to an industry that never stays stagnant.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being able to connect people with the resources they need. It can be challenging to navigate the creative world in terms of funding, resources, and key players. Having already done the groundwork, I feel so lucky to be able to share my knowledge and mentor anyone looking for guidance. I love that being creative helps develop a sense of self, community, and understanding.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

While the library in my mind grabbed titles that were typically inspired by noted graphic designers, philosophers, and other such notables I decided not to write about any of these “bestsellers”. Netflix’s live-action “One Piece” is motivational. The main character Luffy gathers an unlikely crew to battle pirates. This experience reminds me of the non-profit art sector but with an aspiring and encouraging leader. Watch it with your friends and make some memories!

Contact Info:

• Website: bridgettrex.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunqueenxiv/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgettrex/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details_reviews_self?userid=RrvrXtHyVs4RdrD5zatjCQ