We were lucky to catch up with Lex Artxel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lex thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I knew I wanted to pursue art professionally when I realized that it was the only thing that made me happy & at peace. Up until I started painting I didn’t cope with issues in the most positive & even healthiest way. Painting became my get away, I could paint for hours straight and found joy in the process from start to finish.

I feel like we always hear that your career should not feel like a job. Art has never felt like that for me. Art & creating isn’t just my profession it’s literally apart of me.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a self taught artist, what’s actually funny is that I failed art in high school. I didn’t find joy in it until the pandemic.

For the first year I mainly focused on canvas painting. I started experimenting with painting on different items and while helping put together an art show I wanted to explore body paint. Body painting has became my main art preference because it’s amazing to showcase people as living art.

I also have been creative directing with a lot of other artist and models. I’m pretty much a one stop shop when it comes to my creative directing. I style, do hair and makeup and even create scripts. It’s exciting to me to be able to bring a vision I have to life. And that’s why I push myself to at least try all creative jobs so I can build myself as a creative.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I feel the main thing society needs to do to help artist is to start respecting artist. A lot of people respect the art that we create more than they actually respect us. Artist shouldn’t just be the background as if we don’t matter, we create the entire vibe of any event. Without artist & creative directors a lot of your favorite musicians, rappers would not even have visuals. I think if we respected Artist more then we would begin to thrive more.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn that my art isn’t as good as other artist.

I think the main thing that all artist go through a phase that we doubt ourselves especially when we are seeing our peers thrive. I had to start reminding myself that my art is special because it’s not like everyone else’s. I also had to remember that just because I may have not sold a painting easily doesn’t mean that it’s less valuable.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Artxel__
• Twitter: @LexArtxel