We were lucky to catch up with Kyle Cortes recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kyle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Projects come in many shapes and forms, from my first large painting, to starting my own brand, to hosting an art gallery with no experience, to making a story to myself. Truthfully, taking my own art and creative freedom seriously is my meaningful project as it reflects who I am as an ambitious creative. Not knowing how things will turn out when making my logo and brand name “Kumi” to having an official LLC and selling products to hundreds of people. The idea of Kumi started from nothing but hope that I can make art for myself and tell my story of struggle, culture, and religion. The name “Kumi” is part of a phrase “組み上げる” which translates to build from the bottom up. I had no money, no back up, and nothing to start with but an idea. I had nothing but hope at the time and a dream to make something of my life so my younger self can be proud of who he became. Kumi is my beauty of expression and continuous ambition, the joy of creation and story telling through colors.
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?
We all started small, created in a small room until our creations grow so big that we need more room to grow. I work hard so I can give my family back the time that I took away from them. I am an artist, an ambitious and driven artist that someday my work can be seen by millions. I want to tell my story of conflicting cultures, racial division, struggles of youth, and the constant emotional growth. I believe like many artists, my story is important and I want to give others hope that it’s possible. I will be big. I will give hope to others. I will spread a story of truth. I am proud of how far I have made it and more excited to see how much farther I will continue. My brand is who I am and the stories I tell through either a tshirt design, prints, to giant canvases. I am Kumi
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I strive to fail again and again. I’ve fallen, broke down, bruised and made mistakes. I had no journey until I failed a million times. I strive to be better, I strive to grow, I strive for my loved ones. My creative journey was made because of my growth in failure. My mother told me that I was good at failing, meaning I get back up over and over again. My grandmother told me that I was a child that could. A child that if I put my mind to it, I could do anything. My father gave me acceptance after telling me that he believed in after leaving to be on my own. My creative journey was created after a trial of acceptance to believing in my own failure.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Creating an impact on others and showing the importance of story telling in art is beautiful. Sometimes art is hope, an escape for others, and way of expression. Art is rewarding as it is a better understanding of the artist and will create a narrative that the audience can look at someday. I enjoy how people look at art and how much of a change it can make on a person. Creating an environment where people of many cultures and religions can come together to create a welcoming community
Contact Info:
- Website: https://readymag.website/u3616929300/KUMIWORLD/?fbclid=PAdGRleAOHnvRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQIY2FsbHNpdGUCMTUAAacD3IBxAQa4HQDoSgw4SExZv3D7FQa0Oy8JXEQQeXT8kpsacCRwYa-jDTmgyg_aem_O5tptOVj3AdvIWDlPorCoA
- Instagram: Kumi._world
- Other: https://kumishop.com/
Image Credits
I have no credits to add