We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Stephanie Agudelo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

One of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken was choosing to pursue a career in the arts.

Like many artists, I grew up creating, but there comes a point where you have to decide whether art will remain a passion or become something you truly pursue. I chose the second path, even though it came with uncertainty. There is no guaranteed paycheck, no clear roadmap, and success often depends on your willingness to keep going despite rejection, self-doubt, and financial challenges.

For years, I balanced creative work alongside other responsibilities while trying to build a name for myself as a photographer, artist, and curator. I invested my own time, money, and energy into projects that had no guarantee of success. I organized exhibitions, collaborated with emerging artists, and continued creating work even when I wasn’t sure where it would lead.

One of the most defining moments came when my fiancé and I began creating opportunities not only for ourselves but for other artists. We started curating exhibitions and building creative spaces where emerging artists could be seen and celebrated. It was a risk because we were investing in a vision that didn’t yet exist. We had no certainty that people would show up, support it, or believe in it the way we did.

The risk paid off in ways I never expected. My work has been published, exhibited locally and internationally, and I’ve had opportunities to showcase my art in spaces I once only dreamed of. More importantly, I’ve built a creative community and a life centered around something I genuinely love.

The biggest lesson I learned is that risk doesn’t always look like one dramatic leap. Sometimes it’s choosing, over and over again, to believe in yourself when the outcome is uncertain. Pursuing a career in the arts taught me that growth happens outside of comfort zones, and many of the most meaningful opportunities in my life came from saying yes before I felt completely ready.

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.

My name is Stephanie Agudelo, and I am a photographer, visual artist, curator, and creative advocate based in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Creativity has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. What started as a personal passion evolved into a career centered around storytelling, connection, and creating meaningful experiences through art. Photography became my first creative language, allowing me to capture emotion, identity, and the beauty found in everyday moments. Over time, my artistic practice expanded beyond the camera and into curating exhibitions and building opportunities for other artists.

Alongside my fiancé, Ora, I co-founded Populoum, a series of pop-up exhibitions dedicated to creating platforms for emerging artists. That journey eventually grew into helping establish Ultra Mundane Gallery, a space dedicated to contemporary art, community engagement, and creative experimentation.

My work spans photography, fine art, exhibition curation, and creative programming. Whether I am creating artwork, organizing exhibitions, or helping artists gain visibility, my goal is always the same: to create authentic connections between people and art.

What sets me apart is that I approach creativity from both sides of the experience. I understand what it feels like to be the artist searching for opportunities, while also understanding the work required to create spaces where artists can thrive. That perspective has shaped how I collaborate, curate, and support creative communities.

What I am most proud of is not any single exhibition or publication, but the relationships and opportunities that have been built along the way. Seeing artists gain confidence, make connections, sell their work, or experience their first exhibition is incredibly rewarding. Art has the power to bring people together, spark conversations, and create lasting impact, and I am grateful to play a small role in that process.

If there is one thing I want people to know about me and my work, it is that everything I create is rooted in authenticity. Whether through photography, exhibitions, or community projects, I strive to create work that feels honest, accessible, and meaningful. I believe art should not only be seen but experienced, and I hope the spaces and stories I help create inspire others to connect more deeply with themselves and the world around them.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One story that stands out in my journey is my decision to return to my own artistic practice after years of focusing on creating opportunities for others.

As a curator and community builder, I spent a significant amount of time helping artists showcase their work, organizing exhibitions, and building creative spaces. While I loved supporting others, there were periods when my own creative voice took a backseat. Like many artists, I experienced moments of self-doubt and questioned whether there was still space for my work in the broader art world.

Instead of allowing those doubts to stop me, I made the decision to reconnect with my photography and begin creating again. It wasn’t easy. Returning to your craft after stepping away can feel vulnerable. You’re not only facing the challenge of making new work, but also confronting your own fears, expectations, and inner critic.

I continued creating, submitting work, and saying yes to opportunities even when I felt uncertain. That perseverance led to exhibitions, publications, and opportunities to share my work with audiences I never imagined reaching. Most recently, I had the honor of exhibiting my work at the Dali Museum’s Dali Dozen exhibition, a milestone that reminded me why I fell in love with art in the first place.

What that experience taught me is that resilience isn’t always about overcoming one dramatic obstacle. Sometimes it’s about continuing to show up for yourself, especially during seasons when progress feels slow or uncertain. The creative path is filled with highs and lows, but I’ve learned that growth often happens when you keep moving forward, even before you can see the full picture.

That lesson continues to guide me both as an artist and as someone committed to supporting the creative community around me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is connection.

Art has a unique ability to communicate things that words often cannot. As a photographer and visual artist, I create work that is deeply personal, but once it leaves my hands, it takes on a life of its own. One of the most fulfilling experiences is watching someone connect with a piece in a way I never anticipated. Sometimes a photograph, artwork, or exhibition can spark a memory, start a conversation, or make someone feel seen, and that’s incredibly powerful.

I also find immense joy in building community through creativity. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to curate exhibitions, support emerging artists, and help create spaces where people can share their stories and perspectives. Seeing artists gain confidence in their work or witnessing meaningful connections form through art is just as rewarding as creating my own work.

At its core, being an artist allows me to turn curiosity, emotion, and lived experiences into something tangible that others can experience. The greatest reward isn’t recognition or accolades. It’s knowing that something I created resonated with another person and reminded them that they’re not alone in what they feel, dream, or experience.

That’s the magic of art. It creates connection between people who may have never met, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of that process.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Sagudelo0357