Even as a child, I felt that life was destined to be an adventure. I was quite an unusual kid; for my 7th birthday, I asked for a typewriter and spent hours writing poems. An old soul at heart, I kept countless journals scattered throughout the house and even on the patio deck, pretending I was a high-profile journalist documenting the secrets of the cosmos and earthlings.
I’ve always been a little artist, a natural explorer of all things and people. At age 8, I received my first camera from Travis Smith, my elementary school crush. From that moment, I started documenting everything, with my first picture capturing my girl-boy birthday party and trolls on the windowsill. I chronicled everyday life, travels, and school trips, addicted to capturing every detail.
As I grew older, I turned to journaling and scrapbooking, meticulously preserving memories in beautifully displayed archives. During my freshman year of high school, I bought my first video camera and a digital camera that used floppy disks. These became my companions as I documented parties, extracurricular activities, proms, first loves, and all the “Teen Spirit” moments of adolescence. I accumulated shoeboxes full of floppy disks and video cassettes, but I kept my art private, viewing it more as photojournalism—a lost art in today’s social media-driven world.
My passion for documenting life led me to an internship with Houston Community Papers, where my first assignment was interviewing the cast of Star Wars at a celebrity showcase. I vividly remember Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca. He was a gentle giant who refused to take standing pictures because they made him feel like a “freak show.” His candor and kindness left a lasting impression on me, as did R2-D2, a character with few words but a significant presence.
After dropping out of college, I continued my journey through South America with my then-boyfriend, documenting our adventures along the way. I eventually got a job as a creative director for a humanitarian organization, and we traveled extensively through South America, the Caribbean, 7 Mile Beach, Provence, St. Lucia, and made many trips to Tulum. These experiences provided me with an education far richer than anything I could have learned in school. I do regret not getting a business degree, though. Still, I continued to document my journey, knowing that all these pieces would weave a tapestry of my life and guide me to my heart’s yearning destination. I didn’t know what that destination was back then, but my manic creative brain kept pushing me forward, embracing life’s gifts, trips, and lessons.
I began documenting performance art in 2010 and pursued an art career alongside working in high fashion retail. I worked in every aspect of the art world business, learning hands-on from photography to curating at galleries, to hosting pop-up art events, representing artist friends, and sourcing antiques and mid-century modern furniture. I worked my way up to curating at esteemed art fairs like scope and Art Basel but I wanted to expand on my passion for arts and launched my own business.
In 2017, I started my art and design consulting company, The Muse Emporium. Then in 2019, lI launched my online gallery, Aida Contemporary, named after my late grandmother. It was an ode to all my hard work and dedication over the years. Investing in it was a dream come true, especially when I secured partnerships with artsy.net & esteemed local & international artists . I thought my break was finally happening, but then COVID hit, and I spent all my savings trying to keep my businesses afloat.
I started & revived several e-commerce and creative projects during lockdown , including a doggy wear collection called Pupparatzi and a resort wear collection called Cocobibi, which I will be relaunching soon thanks to a new partnership. Stay tuned for that, along with an upcoming podcast in the late fall.
I know this might sound overwhelming, but it’s been over 20 years in the making. Throughout the ups and downs of life, my bread and butter has always been working in high fashion. While I took breaks between my creative pursuits, documenting my travels and evolving fashion sense has remained a constant part of my personality.
Over the last 20 years, I’ve had a full-time job in high fashion retail, working for fashion houses from Prada to Max Mara and participating in trunk shows for every major brand you can think of, from vintage Chanel to Stuart Weitzman. One of my first significant creative endeavors was helping to open a store called Cliché Chic in Montrose for one of my mom’s clients. I designed the store from the ground up and attended MAGIC events to buy for the store. Although it was short-lived, it provided me with a wealth of knowledge.
I’ve had many great opportunities that I sometimes took for granted but now treasure. They have shaped me into who I am today, through the good, the bad, and the ugly—my failures and successes alike.
So much changed when social media came into the picture. My beloved camera was replaced with an iPhone, and the rest is history. I continued to document my life religiously for over ten years, almost seductively, until COVID hit. The pandemic brought many revelations about social media and the art world I had immersed myself in over the last decade.
Eventually, I found the best way to describe my calling: a multidisciplinary artist. People often criticize those who pursue too many things at once, but I didn’t want to be boxed into a corner. That’s not how art truly works; Art is like a river, constantly flowing and evolving, winding its way through the landscape of our lives. Just as a river reflects the colors of the sky and surrounding scenery, art reflects the myriad hues of human emotion, experience, and imagination. Like a rainbow dancing in the mist above the river, art captures the fleeting moments of beauty and wonder, casting its vibrant spectrum of colors across the canvas of our existence. With each brushstroke or melody, art creates ripples that resonate far beyond its source, touching hearts and minds with its timeless message of creativity and expression. In the ever-changing currents of life, art remains a steadfast companion, guiding us along the journey with its boundless energy and endless possibilities.
Art has been my only constant companion—my shadow, my light until I found Jesus, and everything changed for me. That’s why I started this blog. My relationship with myself, my art, my work, and my faith has brought me many revelations. I hope to share them here to inspire or comfort someone else who has been lost and found.
