Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nyia Luna. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nyia, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with a hypothetical question – if it were up to you, what would you change about the school or education system to better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career?
I would shift the expectation that college equals success, encouraging students to give their passions more attention when debating their future field of work. I have taken the steps to enact this change in the educational system through my partnership with Hip Hop For Change. I have worked with high school students to encourage them to tap into their passions with financially sustaining guidelines. Rather than heavily persuading the youth to obtain a degree I think it is necessary to guide them to their natural talents because they will enjoy their day to day and have a more fulfilling career that is based in real love for what they do. Looking back, it would have been amazing to have such programs at my high school because I was under the impression that without a college degree life would be miserable. In fact life is much more enjoyable now that I am not forcing myself to graduate with a degree in a field I am not truly dedicated to. My prioritizing the youth’s skillsets we can fillter out the societal pressures that drain their creativity.
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 was introduced to the world of murals through a program that I think all girls should attend, Graffiti Camp For Girls. At the age of 18 I was accepted into the GCFG summer workshop, I fell in love with mural painting. Within one years of completing the program I was invited onto The Bay Area Mural Program team. With my art opportunities taking off, I contemplated dropping out of community college to pursue my passion full time. When my education switched to an all virtual setting I was positive that my potential was greater than sitting behind a screen all day. In 2020 I leaped straight into my goal of creating art everyday and worked side jobs to afford the rent in the bay. Now with my three year anniversary of being an artist I am proud to be an artist in residence for a mural installation, have my sculpture on display at San Francisco City Hall and continue to lead workshops with youth on painting murals. I am always looking for my next project and would love to paint a wall or host a class in your neighborhood, if you are interested please contact me by email at [email protected]
How’d you meet your business partner?
Girl Mobb, is my current business partner and cofounder of Graffiti Camp For Girls. In the summer of 2019 I graduated high school and moved straight to Oakland from Milwaukee. With the summer leading up to my freshman year at Berkeley City College I was hungry to meet people my age and get tapped into the art community. I discovered a week long program dedicated to hosting spraypaint mural workshops in San Francisco. Immediately I began my application and hoped I would be considered due to the lack of funds for the supply costs. Luckily I was accepted into the class on scholarship. During the camp I connected with youth and learned the basics of designing a mural. I kept in contact with the organization and offered to help at any upcoming classes. I was welcomed with warm embrace and as of today have built a strong friendship with Girl Mobb. In between planning camps in San Francisco’s Clarion Alley, we collaborate on large scale murals. In the summer of 2021 we traveled back to my hometown of Milwaukee to install a mural dedicated to Dolores Huerta. Girl Mobb has become a mentor to me in my art journey and a source of inspiration to always chase my biggest dreams.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
I have noticed that my clientele grows when I am installing public art. For example, I recently painted the window for a new business in Downtown Oakland, as I was painting I was handed a handful of business cards. These cards came from local neighboring business owners, a director of Youth Radio (YR Media) pitched the idea of me leading a workshop teaching the youth in the fellowship how to paint a window design. I believe working on the streets for people to watch your work being live painted is the best way to connect to a new audience. Had I been painting in a studio I would not have crossed paths with these prospective clients. I install one public piece per month to keep my cliental on the uprise.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @NyiaLuna
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/nyialuna
Image Credits
Edsel Rivera