We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Julieta Ferrer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Julieta, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
One of the moments that most forged my resilience was in 2020, during the pandemic. I was preparing a solo exhibition, painting a mural for her, when my father contracted COVID-19. I couldn’t be with him due to distance and restrictions. We spoke daily via video call, and I shared details of the exhibition to distract him.
Three days before the opening, I passed away. Devastated, I traveled to say goodbye at a small cremation, during the pandemic. In the midst of my grief, I almost canceled the exhibition. But my brother told me, “Go. Dad would have loved to see it. Dedicate it to him.”
I returned and opened the exhibition in his honor. That moment taught me that art is an act of faith and resilience. It documents, heals, and persists, especially when life hurts the most. My strength comes from understanding that, even in the darkest moments, creation is a way to honor life and memory.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a Mexican visual artist who works across drawing, painting, embroidery, and murals. Each technique allows me to tell stories through different forms of materiality, yet always in dialogue with a central theme: the memory of the body.
I am fascinated by how memory manifests on our skin—those imprints that shape the body and become symbolic maps of lived experience. This is why I work with the human figure, intervened with symbols, lines, and forms that transform the invisible into visible.
My process is organic and multifaceted. I often work on multiple pieces at once, even across different techniques. Each medium has its own language and demands a different part of me: sometimes ideas flow without interruption, and I dedicate myself solely to drawing; other times, I immerse myself in painting, with colors and details vividly clear in my mind. But when the creative flow is interrupted, I let that piece rest and switch to embroidery or another activity. This shift helps me unlock creativity from a different place.
I deeply believe that these techniques complement each other. Each one teaches me something new and inspires me to keep exploring. My goal is to continue integrating more languages into my process because art, to me, is a continuous journey of learning and connection.
– I’m thrilled to share that one of my recent pieces will be part of the group exhibition “Courage, Valor, Мужество, Мужність, 勇气”, opening was September 5th. This show is the culmination of the immigrant artist mentorship program I participated in last year with NYFA (New York Foundation for the Arts), was an incredible journey of growth and artistic development. Which will be on view at the Russell Hill Rogers Galleries, UTSA Southwest School of Art, until October 25th.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Discipline: I firmly believe that discipline is essential in art. Dedicating time to learn new techniques and execute them carefully, along with consistency, is what allows you to grow and improve.
Patience: Art has its own rhythms. It’s important to let a piece mature, not to force the process, and to allow yourself breaks to walk, dance, or watch a sunset. These moments help refresh your mind and renew your perspective.
Resilience: Accept that error and pain are part of the journey. My art grew the most during difficult times because I learned to transform those experiences into motivation.
My advice:
Don’t wait until you feel “ready” or inspired. Start now. Work even if it’s just a little, but be consistent. Allow your projects to breathe, and don’t be afraid to switch techniques if you feel stuck. Trust that the process will lead you where you need to be.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Right now, my biggest challenge is adapting to a new country and rebuilding my artistic career from scratch in San Antonio. I moved here in 2021, and while it’s been an exciting change, it also involves learning a new language, connecting with local galleries and artists, and finding opportunities to develop and share my work, all while embracing motherhood.
To overcome this, I’ve adopted a few strategies:
I’m actively improving my English with classes where I meet new people from different countries.
I involve my daughter in my artistic journey. We visit exhibitions together, and I hope to show her that motherhood and creativity can coexist beautifully.
With my husband’s support, I organize my time to balance family life and time dedicated to studying.
Most importantly, I’ve learned not to push myself too hard. I give myself patience, set realistic goals, and follow my own pace.
This journey has taught me that growth is often gradual, and that’s okay. Every little step counts.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julietahferrer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julietahferrer/
Image Credits
Julieta Ferrer
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
