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

Emily, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I am currently working on creating my own tarot deck. I am indigenizing the tarot to honor my indigenous ancestors. I am deeply connected to my work and didn’t fully realize at the concept of this project that I would not only be creating a tarot deck, but I would also find comfort + power in finding my voice. Both in writing and speaking. I create my own descriptions for each card and have been experimenting with speaking the words as a voiceover on reels.

Emily, 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 was born and raised in Bozeman, MT. Creating is a way of life for me, with art being my truest form of communication with the world. I thread connections from the past to the present by way of graphite and mixed mediums. Breathing life into those who came before us. My work pays homage to my Mexican & Indigenous heritage. Animals also frequent my work as I bring forth their medicine and messages into the world.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Creating work of deep spiritual meaning and sharing it with the world. It may not be for everyone, but knowing others feel joy and beauty in my work feels extremely rewarding.

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 the idea that I needed to do what everyone else is doing. It’s important to remember that doing things differently is ok and encouraged. The path of an artist can go many different ways.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.emilygonzalesart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raven.sun_wolf.moon/