An Inspired Chat with Dustin Cox of Città Sant’Angelo

We recently had the chance to connect with Dustin Cox and have shared our conversation below.

Dustin , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
In June 2024, my partner Luigi and I made the bold decision to uproot our lives in Toronto and move to the Abruzzo region of Italy. Since arriving, I’ve been fully immersing myself in the culture—from learning Italian and letting go of the familiar, to leaving friends behind, finding ways to maintain my artistic integrity in a new country, and studying endlessly for my Italian driver’s license. Each of these experiences has pushed me far outside my comfort zone.

I never imagined this would be my life at 34, but here we are. I’ve always found comfort in the unknown and feared the idea of living a mundane life.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi there my name is Dustin Cox. I was born in Sioux Falls, SD, educated in Minneapolis, MN, worked professionally in LA, and Toronto, and now I’m based in the picturesque medieval hilltop town of Città Sant’Angelo, Italy. I’m an artist by nature, but have translated my artistry slowly into the fashion industry. My life has been full of transitions which have shaped my identity as an artist. My work is simply a direct reflection of where I’ve been, and where I’m headed. Taking inspiration from everything around me in it’s purest form. My multidisciplinary practice spans digital and traditional media, including watercolor, oil, and acrylic, alongside expert use of Adobe Creative Suite.

Currently I am working as the Art Director for Peace Collective, Over the past year I’ve been fortunate to help the conceptualization & vision for the brand; as well as translate Peace’s brand’s identity into a distinct collections.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I would have to say my Mom saw me for who I was before anyone else. When I was younger she always instilled in me that I had an eye for artistry, and always took the time to tell me how much she loved my work. In one way she was my biggest supporter. While I was a senior in high school I vividly remember having so much anxiety about where to take my career. It seemed that all of my friends were going down the more traditional route, and I felt lost. I found there wasn’t a lot of creative opportunity in South Dakota so I felt that I had to leave to in order to live somewhere that nurtured artists. In this moment I was lucky to be given the push from my mother to move to Minneapolis to pursue an education in the arts. Having her support meant the world, and pushed me to where I am today.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would say trust the process. It may seem hard to comprehend where this will all take you, but if you keep pushing to better your skills great things will come. The creative process looks different for all creatives so it’s important to figure out what works best for you and stick with it.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say that pursuing passion projects is important to me. It’s easy to get caught up in work and prioritize executing other people’s ideas over your own. However, I believe it’s essential to carve out time for personal creative projects. This not only helps strengthen your skills but also keeps your creativity alive and your perspective fresh.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I would say I truly understand what it means to live outside of my comfort zone. For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt drawn to something greater than conventional success. I was never motivated by the pursuit of a big house or a lofty title; instead, I’ve always been driven to challenge myself and see how far my creativity could take me. I know what it means to adapt to an entirely new way of life while still holding onto and nurturing my creative spirit.

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