Meet Alexandria Vargas

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

Alexandria, so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.

I’ve learned that I don’t owe access to everyone. It’s okay to unfollow, mute, or block people who bring negativity into my creative space. Protecting my peace lets me focus on what actually matters. People will doubt you until they can’t ignore you, so I just keep going. I make my art, set up my booth, ship my orders, and stay consistent. Over time, that growth speaks louder than any criticism.
I also remind myself that most negativity isn’t really about me. It usually comes from people seeing someone doing what they wish they had the courage to try. That doesn’t excuse it, but it helps me take it less personally. And honestly, community makes all the difference. Other artists and small vendors who understand the grind, they lift you up. We share wins, vent the hard days, and remind each other that small steps forward still count.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m the artist behind Black Cat Art, where I create pieces that live somewhere between the eerie and the tender. My work includes painted clay ghosts holding heart-shaped balloons, sad clown girls, whimsical cat prints, and other little oddities that feel like pieces of stories, sentimental, strange, and quietly emotional. What excites me most is the connection people have with my work. Someone might see something and tell me it made them feel seen or that it spoke to them in a way nothing else has. That kind of emotional exchange is what keeps me creating. Lately, I’ve been expanding my mystery box series themed around phrases like “Shadows in Bloom” or “Love Letters Never Sent.” Each one is a small world of art, words, and keepsakes that tells a story. I also continue to vend at events across Southern California, and I hope to reach other parts of the state and the country next year, where people can experience the work in person and maybe take home something that resonates with them.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I’d say the first quality is resilience, learning to keep going even when things feel slow, uncertain, or unseen. There will always be quiet seasons, but that’s when your foundation is built. My advice is to stay consistent, even when doubt creeps in. Small steps still move you forward. The second is authenticity. Everything changed when I stopped trying to fit into a certain mold and started creating what genuinely spoke to me. Don’t chase trends, chase what feels true. The right people will connect with that honesty. And lastly, I’d say adaptability. Running a small creative business means wearing a lot of hats: artist, marketer, photographer, packer. It can be overwhelming, but you learn by doing. Stay curious, be patient with yourself, and allow your work, and yourself, to evolve.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

That’s such a great question. Honestly, I think I’d drop out of my master’s program and spend my time creating without hesitation. I’d want to leave behind something honest, something that speaks for me when I’m gone. I’d make more time for the people I love, eat good food, travel to places that feel both haunted and alive, watch sunsets, and laugh until it hurts. I’d want every ordinary moment to feel sacred.
It’s funny, isn’t it? We should be treating every moment like that already.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://blackcatart.bigcartel.com/
• Instagram: @_blackcatart_
• Other: Email: [email protected]