Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Devan Martin Friedrichs. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Devan, thanks for joining us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

In early 2022, I was sitting down with my friend-turned-business-partner Liv, and we were talking about some of our ideas for hosting our own art events. This conversation would prove to be a catalyst for what we were about to embark on. We came up with the idea for The Cosmic Roots Collective after recognizing a need that artists had- to get their work seen beyond the screen. After that, everything began falling into place. We hosted our debut showcase in the summer of 2022 and went on to host a second event in December of 2022. Both of these events far-surpassed our expectations in the best kind of way. We always knew we had a good thing coming to fruition, but the response from the community is what surprised us the most. It has felt so right in our hearts this entire time and we feel we are just getting started.

Devan, 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?

I’ve always been an artist at heart, but didn’t have the time to really start exploring my creativity until my career as a collegiate swimmer ended. After I graduated, I finally had the creative freedom my soul yearned for. I spent about 3 years working as an in-house graphic designer until I made the shift to a more creative life. I realized that I could still freelance as a designer, but not have to feel restricted by certain business protocols. It was just what I needed. I began to spend more time paining and drawing, and my inventory began to grow. It was in 2017 when I had enough people telling me I should share and sell my stuff with other people, that I started doing exactly that. The response from everyone around me was incredible and definitely fueled my spirit. A few years later, I started getting into the local art scene, vending at markets in Atlanta and showing my work in a few galleries. Everything in my life kept building momentum and I was exponentially growing as an artist. I still continue to progress as an artist, and my work continues to evolve as I live through the many seasons of life.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I understood the value of human connection. Both personally and professionally. As an artist, I am notoriously an introvert who would rather stay in and shut the world out instead of going out. As I’ve gotten older and let down some of those walls, I’ve noticed how much they have held me back in the past. I have opened myself up and met tons of amazing people, some of who have turned into lifelong friends & some who have helped open doors of thought and opportunity to nourish my creative life.

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?

I think my story is a unique one because I wasn’t the quintessential “artist type” in my younger years, I think that a lot of creatives hinder their talents to fit into society. For me, the weight of the world kept piling on top. of me until I was forced to take a good look at my life and realize that sitting in a cubicle was not the life I was carved out for. From the outside looking in, things were in tip-top shape but I was far from fulfilled in life. One thing I think some non-creatives get wrong about me is that they think artists and creatives are supposed to be this “one thing” or thing certain type of person. When in fact, creatives are multi-faceted. I express myself in ways other than art, and I think people find it really compelling that I am a Muay Thai fighter in addition to being a creative. You can do all the things, you don’t have to fit into anyone’s box.

Contact Info:

• Website: creativelyflowing.com
• Instagram: @creativelyflowing
• Facebook: CreativelyFlowing
• Other: My Art Collective- The Cosmic Roots Collective- @thecosmicrootscollective