Story & Lesson Highlights with Quel Hynson of North Houston

We recently had the chance to connect with Quel Hynson and have shared our conversation below.

Quel, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Being in nature and looking at living things that are physically smaller than me in size but so integral to the bigger picture of life: bees, dragonflies, those green-winged insect things (I don’t know their name), children, and flowers.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Quel Hynson (pronounced KEL HINE-SON), a storyteller, artist, and educator from Houston currently based in Dallas. My organization Quel Hynson Art specializes in creative solutions, design, and art consulting where I partner with fellow entrepreneurs and small businesses to breathe life into physical spaces and into the everyday lives of people through workshops and custom decor.

Having my hands in various pots currently, I can say that I am working on curated art experiences that focus on reconnecting viewers with their inner child. Mindfulness and a regulated nervous system in the ghettos of this world are so important, so a lot of my work focuses on showcasing the beauty in the mundane and the art of play.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
My junior year in undergrad, I had to take an arts elective to finish out my degree. I chose ceramics. Prior to rekindling my relationship with art in intentional ways, I had only considered myself primarily an athlete with a deep like of art. For some reason, the world then made art, sports, finance, literally every career path its own separate thing.

We made bowls, plates, rolling pins, and freestyle pieces in this class. As I began to really be present in the creation of the work, I saw synergy in ceramics at musuems, the dishes in loved ones’ homes, and repeat symbols on objects literally everywhere I’d look. This lit a new spark in my appreciation of art and I quickly gravitated back towards a lot of the art I’d engaged with growing up in Houston. Art is truly in EVERYTHING in the world. It’s not soley in a musuem or garden; those are just some of the places that house art.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been several of those moments. The deeper I get into my practice, I realize those are often moments where I need to pause or grant myself a reset. We (humans) are not machines. We’re not meant to be on go all the time. Even computers and cars break down if you push them too much without proper care, attention, and rest.

The biggest thing in those moments is to give yourself grace. The ebbs and flows are a part of the journey. Those tough moments are when I love on my inner child a little more. I go to the arboretum, touch grass, do some cartwheels, skip through town, and laugh.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Black women.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If immortality were real, what would you build?
I’d build a way to look at and observe the hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the wonders of the ancient world, for horticulturalists and people deeply rooted to the preservation and positive appreciation of this planet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.quelhynson.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequelhynson
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/quelhynson