Meet Ana Rodriguez

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

Ana, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Like many people in Miami, I am an immigrant. I undoubtedly derive my resilience from this experience. It takes immense courage to uproot your life and start anew in a country where you don’t know the language or the culture. Overcoming such obstacles requires a unique stubbornness. Through the struggle, you find yourself. You learn to support and hold on to yourself to survive. This shared journey is what binds us together in Miami more than anything else.

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 am an artist obsessed with Miami’s history. The Magic City earned its name because it grows and changes overnight. In the nearly three decades I have been in the city, I have seen it develop character and a unique identity. I am interested in creating pieces that start a conversation about who we are, how we see ourselves, and pinpoint the things we have in common. I believe if we look into our collective history, we can feel inspired to connect with each other and to our rich environment.

The first piece I created for this purpose is a pamphlet that explores a few historic spots in the city. I provide some context about the creation of these spaces and attempt to connect them with life in today’s Miami. I want the people of Miami to visit these places and discover how they reflect who we are as a community.

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

Follow your curiosity. Libraries are great places to immerse yourself in researching something you like. They have digital resources too. Our museums are also changing and improving; they shelter the story of us—the past and the present—and perhaps also offer a glimpse of what we can be culturally in the future. The spiritual aspect of us is also important for integral growth. What inspires us, what moves us to action, and what are the things we should care about, regardless of our differences?

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

Time management is crucial. Life is complicated, and our schedules always seem to be busy. However, taking the time to develop your ideas is always worth it. I try my best to stay organized and, beyond logistics, to check in with myself about where I want to go with my art. It’s difficult to juggle our busy lives, but I make an effort to remember why I do things beyond the mechanical day-to-day duties.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @nitastrokes