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

Keiko, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

from the moment i realized my father (a very succesful architect) had been convinced by his own father to study architecture instead of art (painting) – in order to have a lucrative paying career (and stay away from the bohemian financial insecurity of the life of a painter) i knew that i had to pursue this path for myself

Keiko, 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?

i am half bolivian half american and have lived my life back and forth between these two worlds. i was always a good student and able to rise to the top of any endeavour i wished to pursue.
after getting my masters of fine art at rutgers (on a very nicely funded fellowship) i moved to la paz bolivia and began almost immediately to show and become commercially viable in the la paz art market.

as ive said, my father was quite famous here, and there are many in my immediate family very influencial in the arts in bolivia
i rode that nepo baby wave to the very top of the bolivian art world.
i have become the top abstract painter of the country and have been selected many times to represent this nation in many bienials worldwide

i work from a beautiful studio, i have built custom to my needs, and feel no financial strains on my life

i have no need to cater to clients wishes or wants, on the contrary, i produce the work i want and am known for my style and vision
i produce a lot of work, in 2d and 3d mediums, and can turn down any fool who would want to dictate my line of work

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

being my own boss working on my own schedule
not listening to any ones advice or criticism

doing what i want, where i want and how i want with no worries about its end
(will it sell?, who fucking cares)

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

i must say my goal has always been to be free of all outside influences

once i became financially free of any obligations (very early in my career) i was able to dictate my own path

what one wants is to establish ones own voice, ones own unique style and rise above the mediocrity of those who are seeking to give the public what it wants, or understands or is able to consume

Contact Info:

• Website: keikogonzalez.com
• Instagram: keikopaints