We recently connected with Sofia Enriquez and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sofia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

When I was in middle school, I was very much into collecting vintage pins, tearing pages of magazines, making dioramas for my toys, and playing on Microsoft paint. I think at that point I was just obsessed with decorating my own space and pulling things that I liked together and surround myself with them. That was the birth of my creative DNA. It was the weird middle stage of still playing, but trying to find what’s cool as a kid. That’s basically the same thing I am doing now.

Sofia, 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 got into this industry by simply showing up and making myself available to help out art productions. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, attending art shows, events, and meeting as many artists as I could. As someone who used to be shy, it took real effort to start building those relationships. It wasn’t until I started connecting with other creatives, putting my work online, and in public spaces, t I began to see my efforts of trying to be a part of the art community, my work grew into a real practice.

Today I work as a fine artist, muralist, installation artist, art fabricator, and designer. For short, I just say, Artist. My creative world also includes MUCHO, my upcycled fashion line that merges art and sustainability. MUCHO was born out of a desire to give secondhand clothing a new life by turning each piece into a canvas for storytelling. Instead of letting these items end up in landfills, I use them to create something bold, symbolic, and rooted in my Chicano culture.

I bring my autobiographical art into physical spaces, whether that’s through murals, exhibitions, or immersive installations. I only take on projects that align with my values and help me tell my story authentically. That’s really important to me. I want everything I do to be meaningful, both visually and emotionally.

One of the things I’m most proud of is working with Coachella. In 2019, I was featured artist designing large scale installation. It was really cool to see my name on the Coachella Line up Flyer! However I have worked for the festival since 2015, behind the scenes as part of the art production team, supporting other artists in building their installations and creating an experience. That experience really affirmed my belief in community and collaboration. Helping others create helped me grow, and that exchange of energy is something I always carry into my work.

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

A big lesson I had to unlearn was thinking that self-deprecating thoughts or putting myself down would somehow push me to grow as an artist. It doesn’t. It only holds me back. The back story is simple, addressing mental health and getting help.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Creatives have to create. For a long time, I felt lost, ashamed, or like a disappointment of a daughter because I didn’t have the desire to follow a traditional path or get a stable 9-to-5 job, like teaching. It wasn’t until recently that I fully accepted there is no Plan B…this is it. Being an artist is my job. I get paid to make powerful work, to collaborate with brands, artists, friends, and to build a life around what I love.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sofiaenriquez

Image Credits

photo by Artist, Jack Daniel’s, Obey clothing, Lance Gerber, Tommy Shih, Bobby Escobedo, Linkin Park.