We recently connected with Leslie K. Monroy and have shared our conversation below.
Leslie K., thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I grew up on the border of Mexico. You take risks all the time growing up here. Tagging as a kid was a huge part of this area. Knowing where you shouldn’t tag, and then doing it anyways really gives you a feeling of… I can’t explain it. Creating in fear like that was beyond exhilarating. Renegade art is truly like no other art form. I don’t condone the way we did it back then. But man, it was a blast, we truly felt alive. I think things have finally started to change and street art is becoming more acceptable now. I live for it.
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 a builder of immersive art installations, a creator of ephemeral portals, a curator and designer of plants, and a pen and ink enthusiast. I live to create magical moments; live art, public pieces for parks/museums, magnificent murals, wildly redesigned interiors, stages and other installs of various sizes at music festivals. Seeing the look on peoples faces as they approach and play with my art is everything.
I am known to bring a bit of whimsy and strangeness to all that I do.
I have always drawn. It is my first passion and what opened the doors to the rest of my creativity. I only draw in black and white, and most of my drawings have hidden things or can be turned in different directions to reveal other images. I love history and mythology and more often than not incorporate it in some fashion. To be able to tell a story with an image is an absolute delight.
Despite drawing being my first love, I simply adore creating art that can be experienced with ones full body. Making things that can be played with, climbed on, walked through, opened, lit up, and just overall tinkered with are my favorite! This has been the most fun of all my art genres. I believe the first one I ever made was a giant 12′ cog art piece. It was a giant spinning, wildly colored, multiple sided art piece that you could interact with. II was utterly enthralled watching people approach and learn how to play with all the different parts. I think we all still have a sense of childlike wonder no matter our age, so to be able to create art that brings that back out in people is a true joy for me.
I’ve recently embarked on my mural journey and true to form it rings strange and unusual as I paint in places most wouldn’t. I love to redesign ceilings, bathrooms, doors, windows, and any other peculiar place that needs some fun art. I have done large walls but honestly prefer to put things where no one would expect, and within those places, hide little bits of lore here and there where only the most discerning eyes can find.
My most ephemeral form of art, my beach installations, began after I suffered an immeasurable loss. I sat on the beach and just started to draw in the sand for hours, and hours, only to have the ocean wash it all away. Something about this was so cathartic and peaceful that I continued the process monthly. These pieces I have created in the sand can get up to 500’”. When creating in the sand, one has to pay close attention to the timing of the tides, which will ultimately wash all away.
Initially, I told no one I was doing this. It was something I did for myself in my sadness, until one day a drone caught me and I finally saw what it looked like from the sky. I had no idea what I had created until then.
I like to think that what I’ve Iost looks down upon them before the waves come sweep them out to the sea.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I am constantly looking to learn something new. A never ending desire to learn is my biggest quality for sure
My ADHD doesn’t allow me to stay still for long and my want for creative knowledge knows no end.
I would say my best qualities are my desire for knowledge, my tenacity to get things done, and my curiosity for the unexplained. I will never stop blooming.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I live to create and collaborate with other artists. Even if you don’t think you are creative or have any artistic skills, I will prove you so wrong and show you that we all have magic in our finger tips! Life and art is no fun alone. I have an absolute amazing time meeting new creatives and seeing what skills they have and how we can make some new creations. If you would like to join me in this beautiful journey please check out my socials or my website and send me a message! https://flowersonflowers.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bunnyfoofee/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://flowersonflowers.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bunnyfoofee/
