We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lasha Stewart a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lasha, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Growing up as a black girl in the suburbs, I became very accustomed to being one of the few black people in the room, sometimes the only one. This carried on through college and graduate school. I found that making relationships with the people around me despite our differences helped, as well as joining organizations that centered to my identities as a gay black woman. This way I was able to cater to my social needs in multiple areas without being too secluded.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a multimedia artist who works primarily in Philadelphia. I was raised in Texas for most of my childhood and finally left the nest when I went to college. Drake University in Iowa was where I believe that my passion for art as a career began. While I always enjoyed art making, I never thought of it as a career path until my last year of college. I moved to Philadelphia to get my Masters in Fine Arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. This is where I fully flourished. I began working with materials that I never thought possible for art making. This ranged from drywall to slinkies to tires. During the spring of 2023, I’m sure I got so many looks from passerby’s due to the crazy site of me walking down broad street with a dirty beaten up tire on my shoulder. While it was definitely a site to see, it was a very important part of my practice at the time. I was using tires as a conduit for the black body and black experience. Taking something that has been beaten into the ground and discarded and then making it into something that can be considered fine art was something that I became really invested in. Though I have taken a mental break from that period of my art practice, I hope to get back to it in the new year.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I believe that the most important quality that helped me along my journey is the ability to adapt to most situations. I grew up in a military family that moved almost once a year up until my first year of high school. This gave me the ability to adapt to change quite readily. With the changes in jobs, career aspirations, hobbies, and life stressors, I tend to take everything in stride and keep it moving. Another skill that I have kept with me is more of a mantra. “Fake it till you make it.” I’ve always been a bit of an introvert when it came to any kind of social situation, however, my entire grad school experience would have been all the worse had I not gotten out of my shell. It was difficult at first because I was not used to putting myself out there, but I put a smile on my face and intentionally placed myself in social situations with the hope that I would eventually be able to get used to talking with new people. I had to “fake it till I made it,” and it ended up working out for me. I still hesitate to put myself in those situations, however, when the moment arises, I now know how to navigate it to still be able to make connections and foster relationships with others. Lastly, I believe that the self awareness that I had about my career path was very impactful. I knew from the moment I said that I would become an artist that it wouldn’t be a straight shot to a stable career. I understood the struggles that I would face to get myself out in the art world, and I knew the sacrifices that I would have to make. This helped me to not be disappointed by the lack of career straight out of college or the slow sailing that my art practice was going. It helped me to keep pushing forward despite all of the hardships. For those who have just started on their journey to greatness, my advise would be to adapt and overcome, fake it till you make it, and be aware of the challenges you are likely to face so they don’t trip you up in the future. Take this journey in stride and have fun.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing that my parents ever did for me was believing in my dream. When I finally decided to pursue life as an artist, they backed me up, and went with it. When I had doubts about the lack of straightforward career paths and my own talent, they helped me work through it and keep pushing on. That support got me to where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lashastewart.art/
- Instagram: @lasha_Stewart
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lashastewart
