Often, those who tread off the beaten path are misunderstood or mischaracterized and so we asked folks from the community to reflect and tell us about the times they’ve been misunderstood or mischaracterized.

T-Shawn

I feel as if it is an artist journey to begin misunderstood. When I took my first steps into music, I only had one person that believed I even had the talent to be successful. My grandmother didn’t want me doing it, my friends secretly joked to each other about me trying it, but I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t stop writing. I’ve discovered that God gives us a path, and guides our steps, it’s up to us to take his guidance. I’ve lost any and everything you could image behind what I know I’m on earth do as an artist, but that’s the beauty of this process; Read more>>

Alejandra Phelts

I did a series of paintings called the Cart series, and the main theme is the automobile. About 20 years ago in one of my exhibitions of this series, I was in front of one of my works when a recognized artist came to observe it as well. He began to share with me out loud his admiration for the artist, his use of color, the concept, etc but at all times referring to the unknown artist with masculine adjectives, assuming that the creator, in this case, me, was a man. Read more>>

Giselle Estrada

I think many times, artists are misunderstood. Women in general are misunderstood for the way they look, act, or simply exist. As a makeup artist I’ve had people tell me, “that isn’t a real job” “you are never going to get anywhere by just wearing makeup”. However I am here to tell you, you can do anything regardless of what people think about you. Their opinions don’t pay your bills and most definitely don’t matter. At the end of the day, everything that you do, let it be for you and only you. If it makes you happy, and gives your life purpose don’t give up on it <3 Read more>>

Justine Mantor-Waldie

I attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for my Undergraduate education. The school was highly competitive with very few students actually attaining the BFA degree. I was one of a very few women to actually receive the degree. On Friday, every week students would put up their paintings to be critiqued by a professional Chicago artist. Students were encouraged to participate in the critique. When I volunteered an opinion I was told by a male student, “What do you know, you’re a woman and you will never pursue your art professionally. You’ll get married, have children and drop out of art.” Read more>>

7ven

There’s been many times I have gotten perceived as some random Tarot Reader who’s into astrology who reads cards and into spirituality. I have been misjudged as a multi – talented artist who can’t be as great as others because I do many things instead of aiming towards one. I have felt the judgement of other photographers because I never learned how to properly utilize specific tools or terminology to enhance my work. Read more>>

Aney Leos

Some people run from the scary, they run from the unknown; other people are drawn to it. Blood is a big one that can attract or disgust. I see it as our sustenance, the reason we are alive. It holds the strongest energy on this earth and regardless of what’s on the outside, we all have it on the inside. This is why I was drawn to it and why I based my whole brand on it. Read more>>

Karmello Drip

Most def especially starting up, Working on dreams when I was younger had me looking like chicken little in the streets. Being new to the game and having different projects to work on nobody else really understood my ideas. I wasn’t going to come out only making one style of music because in the long run I wanted to expand as a brand. How I looked at myself and how others viewed me was a big difference. Read more>>