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

Alright, Emiliana thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

it’s a funny question to answer because deciding to choose art as a career, whether it be music or visual art, entails accepting the unpredictability and numerous unexpected areas it encompasses. Many of the unexpected challenges have arisen from different aspects, such as family acceptance or non-acceptance, as well as unexpected success. One of the biggest issues I’ve encountered is overcoming the notion that others, including family and friends, will believe in my goals. Often, I find myself grappling with doubts from external opinions, even though I don’t internally question my decision to pursue art as a full-time career. There is a widespread misconception that art, being enjoyable to view and often a source of great pleasure for the artist, doesn’t require genuine effort or time.

Frequently, I find myself facing the challenge of my family not recognizing the time I spend in the studio as serious work, leading me to learn the importance of saying ‘no.’ ‘No’ is an incredibly powerful word; it establishes boundaries and commands respect. Sometimes, family or friends need to hear this word, even if it doesn’t sit well with them. Through setting boundaries, I have learned that I may lose some people, but I gain a significant amount of self-confidence in my choices. This newfound strength empowers me to pursue my dreams and attain my creative and artistic goals wholeheartedly in my life.

Emiliana , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Emiliana Henriquez I was Born in El Salvador and Raised in Los Angeles, I love Drawing inspiration from the vibrant and diverse cultures of Los Angeles, my art aims to explore the universal human experience. Through dream-like imagery often inspired by renowned physiologist Carl Jung and his symbolic theories,
My work delves into themes of self-discovery and acceptance, sparking conversation and promoting empathy among viewers by creating a shared experience that transcends differences in culture, language, and background, Overall I hope to inspire a sense of unity and connection.
Through a mix of traditional and contemporary techniques, I create layered works that invite contemplation and introspection. My process involves a deep exploration of personal experiences and emotions, which I translate into visual form.
Ultimately, my art seeks to create a space for introspective dialogue and foster greater understanding of our shared humanity.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

love this question because I’m always looking for opportunities to share the importance of collecting art within Latin communities. It isn’t enough to simply adore a favorite artist. Talented Latin artists arise every day, especially with the advent of social media platforms. However, adoring an artist does not equate to a successful artist or, more importantly, one that impacts culture. Giving them community support by being a patron or collector is extremely vital to an artist’s longevity, especially in a space like the art market that is extremely difficult to penetrate.

For those who don’t know, the art market is a $60 billion yearly industry, with most of the funds going towards recycled works like classical masterpieces from non-living artists, predominantly white male artists. To put it in perspective, Target is a $70 billion yearly industry, so there isn’t as much to go around as one might think.

Investing in artists gives them a chance to remain relevant over a long period of time, allowing them to create some kind of cultural impact. Artists have chosen a career that allows them to work their entire lives in creating a sliver of cultural history. We not only look at artists of the past in thought but also in actual institutions that serve to glorify and protect the cultural significance of their work.

Collecting art is about preserving our culture. When we are long gone, these images and works will be some of the only things left to tell our story. The work will shape how we are viewed and how future generations will be inspired to continue the tradition.

I advocate for art collecting within Latin communities because it goes beyond the self. It becomes about community, culture, and history.

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

Being an autodidactic artist, meaning I am self-taught, I have a natural hunger to learn. There is a natural urge to understand things, and the more complex they become, the more the complexities never really stop. It’s like an endless pit of “whys” and “hows,” something I’ve become pretty comfortable with. I think this is what makes being an artist extremely fascinating.

I believe that if an artist has a real savage hunger to push forward despite lacking a formal education, he or she will be even more powerful. The desire to seek knowledge doesn’t end when the class ends. That artist has now created a built-in mechanism that does not require someone looming over them and directing their next step.

If any artist can relate to this, then I would be more than happy to share books/audiobooks that have helped me throughout my journey. Here are a few recommendations:

“The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield: If you want to stop making excuses and get a good kick, this book won’t coddle you, but it gives it to you straight. It tackles the issue of procrastination and helps you confront the source of it, freeing you to take charge of your own destiny. It’s an incredibly helpful read.

The Art Spirit” by Robert Henri: This book teaches the lively sensibility of seeing and creating. Robert Henri, an incredible portrait painter, serves as an inspiration through his works alone.
“Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl: Written by a Holocaust survivor, this book reframes our idea of what gives our life meaning and how that meaning can give us the fire to survive anything. Finding meaning in our lives is vital.

And last but not least, my absolute favorite:

“The Red Book” by Carl Jung: I am someone who loves to delve into the meanings of “why.” Why do I love this or that? Why not? Carl Jung dives into the unconscious mind to find universalities. I find this book helpful because it reminds us that we are not alone in our fears. We experience many things collectively, and this realization allows me to feel at ease, knowing that I am hardly the first to experience fears and doubts.
I hope these recommendations are helpful to some artists out there. Literature is important to the practice of art making, in my opinion. It has been a tremendous help for my personal and creative growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.emilianahenriquez.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/emilianaartist/