Avé Rivera
“I maintain a social media presence in the hopes of inspiring others who also want to be an artist, especially women of color. This was the primary reason I started a YouTube channel, to share a peek into what running an artist business looks like.”
Her social media also acts as a platform through which Rivera hopes to inspire others and bring more visibility to women of color in the industry. Rivera said, “I maintain a social media presence in the hopes of inspiring others who also want to be an artist, especially women of color. This was the primary reason I started a YouTube channel, to share a peek into what running an artist business looks like. It was only later in my career that I found other ceramic artists who look like me, and being an artist wasn’t an “encouraged” career choice. It’s easier to pursue this path when you see examples of those with a similar background as you in the field.” Rivera speaks to real issues including the lack of visibility of artists of color in the industry but, more importantly, she is actively using her presence and platforms to create change regarding those issues.
Rivera commented on how lucky she was to have the supportive mentors she did in her collegiate career and credited them with helping her push her work even farther; “My professors in undergrad challenged me to keep refining the details. The finishing stage of a piece was never my favorite, but those tiny details are what pushed my work to another level”. This is advice that she hopes to impart on other artists as well. When asked about what she would want to tell emerging artists she said, “advice I would give artists is to not be afraid to fail; don’t fear making bad art. It’s all a part of the process. I’d challenge them to finish a “failed” or “bad” piece of art and see where it takes you”. Rivera’s journey has been amazing thus far and she’s shown that talent and dedication are the most important tools for success within the industry. Avé Rivera is an inspirational role model for many, and her creativity and ability to produce amazing work knows no bounds.
Educational/Personal Growth Opportunity
“Advice I would give to artists is to not be afriad to fail; don’t fear making bad art. It’s all a part of the process.”
“I’d challenge them to finish a “failed” or “bad” piece of art and see where it takes you.” Revisit a piece you thought wasn’t worth the time or wasn’t going anywhere and look at it with a fresh perspective – see where you can go with it now.
