We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Diamond Bradley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Diamond below.

Diamond, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

The very first time I earned money from something creative was actually back in fifth grade. We had this student store project, and instead of selling candy or random stuff, I decided to introduce my classmates to where I’m from. I made New Orleans dishes like jambalaya and lemonade — things that felt true to me — and I sold them. That moment showed me that I could make something personal and still have people connect with it.

Fast forward to college, and I started producing art shows and events — literally budgeting out how much I needed to break even, how to price tickets, how to charge artists to be in the space. I didn’t have a blueprint, I was just figuring it out and learning from the people around me. That same spirit I had back in fifth grade stayed with me — create something real, and make it valuable.

And I’ll never forget one of my mentors advocating for me early on, when I wasn’t being paid the same as others in a gallery assistant role — simply because I was a Black woman. I didn’t even realize it until she brought it to my attention. That stayed with me. I advocate hard for fair pay now, because creatives deserve to be compensated and respected like any other profession.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, and I’m the founder of The Primary Movement, which started in my college dorm room at Georgia State University back in 2018. What began as a creative community for self-taught and academic artists has grown into a hub for creators to find alignment — through career opportunities, events, and wellness spaces.

My background is in history and cultural studies, but I’ve always been a connector. I was curating spaces on campus and in the community before I even had a full brand. Eventually, I found myself working in museum events, civic engagement, and experiential marketing. Now I’m at NYU studying event management, and I also teach yoga at Ofrenda Yoga Studio — so wellness is a big part of my work too.

Whether I’m curating a gallery show, producing a brand activation, or guiding a meditation, my work centers healing, identity, and real community care.

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

At the core, my mission has always been to help people connect, create, and showcase their God-given talents. That’s the foundation The Primary Movement was built on, and it still guides everything I do — whether I’m curating an event, teaching a yoga class, or building out a brand activation.

Lately, though, the intention around that mission has deepened. I’m in a season of moving with more strategy and clarity. I used to approach everything from this place of hustle and proving, trying to validate myself through the work. Now I’m more focused on sustainability, on building systems that support not just the brand, but the lifestyle I want to live.

It’s about alignment. Not just doing the work, but making sure the work is doing right by me, too.

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

The biggest lesson I’ve had to unlearn is not marrying myself to a single idea of what life or success should look like. One of my art professors used to tell me, “Don’t marry yourself to an idea.” And at the time, I didn’t fully get it. I’m someone who’s deeply committed — if I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it. So when things didn’t go as planned, I used to feel like I failed.

But what I’ve come to realize is, sometimes the redirection is the assignment. Pivoting isn’t failure — it’s growth. I had to learn to surrender, to accept when something’s not working, and trust that it’s okay to shift. That mindset has made me more resilient, more grounded, and more open to what’s really meant for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.diamondbradley.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d.muse__/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diamondbradley/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theprimarymovement