Meet Pako Pablos

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pako Pablos. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Pako, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

Confidence and self-esteem didn’t come overnight — they were built through experience, failure, and persistence. I learned early that confidence isn’t about thinking you’re better than anyone else, it’s about trusting your own process, even when no one else sees it yet.

When I moved to the U.S. chasing basketball dreams and ended up working in warehouses and clubs, I had to rebuild my identity from scratch. Every small win — finishing a design, selling my first artwork, earning recognition — became a reminder that belief grows through action. Confidence is built by showing up, even when the outcome is uncertain.

Over time, I realized that self-esteem comes from purpose. Once I understood why I create — to connect, to inspire, to represent — I stopped comparing myself to others. My advice to anyone still finding their confidence is simple: don’t wait for validation. Keep building, keep learning, and let your work be your voice until your voice becomes unshakable.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

What I do has always been about connection — connecting cultures, generations, and ideas through art. I’m a multimedia artist originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, and my journey has taken me from the basketball courts to galleries around the world, and now into spaces where art meets technology, education, and social impact.

My work blends traditional portraiture with digital innovation, celebrating iconic figures who have inspired cultural change while exploring how creativity can shape identity and opportunity. What excites me most is using art as a universal language — a tool that opens conversations across boundaries.

Over the years, my pieces have been showcased internationally — from Tokyo to London to Los Angeles — and have been featured in projects like Space Jam: A New Legacy. I’ve also been honored with recognitions like the Doctorado Honoris Causa, the Medalla Benito Juárez, and most recently, the City of Escondido, California, proclaimed June 1st as Pako Pablos Day in acknowledgment of my cultural and artistic impact.

Beyond exhibitions, I’m focused on building bridges between art, education, and innovation. My current projects include a national art competition in Mexico that merges creativity with science and AI, and a forthcoming book inspired by my TEDx talk, Creativity Beyond the Canvas, which explores how imagination can create opportunities far beyond the art world.

Through my studio and collaborations, my goal is to keep expanding what it means to be a modern artist — not just creating visuals, but building a legacy that inspires others to dream bigger, push boundaries, and use creativity as a force for connection and change.

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

Looking back, I’d say the three qualities that defined my journey are resilience, curiosity, and adaptability.

Resilience has been the backbone of everything. My path wasn’t a straight line — I went from being a basketball player to working in warehouses and nightclubs before becoming a full-time artist. Every challenge taught me to keep pushing, to see obstacles as part of the process rather than the end of it. For anyone starting out, I’d say: don’t wait for ideal conditions — use what you have, where you are, and stay consistent.

Curiosity is what opened every new chapter in my life. I’ve always been fascinated by how things connect — art, music, sports, technology. That mindset led me to experiment with digital tools early on and eventually merge traditional art with modern media. My advice: never stop learning. Curiosity keeps you evolving and makes your work relevant in a world that changes fast.

And finally, adaptability — the ability to reinvent yourself without losing your essence. The world doesn’t stop moving, and creativity is about adjusting your rhythm without losing your song. I’ve had to adapt from athlete to designer to artist to cultural ambassador, and each transition became an opportunity to expand my voice.

For those at the beginning of their path, I’d say: resilience will keep you standing, curiosity will keep you growing, and adaptability will keep you moving forward — no matter where life takes you.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Absolutely. Collaboration has always been at the core of my creative philosophy. I’m constantly looking to connect with visionaries, brands, and institutions who believe in the power of art to inspire, educate, and build cultural bridges. Whether it’s through exhibitions, creative campaigns, educational programs, or cross-disciplinary projects that merge art with technology, sports, or social impact — I’m drawn to partnerships that go beyond aesthetics and create meaningful experiences.

Right now, I’m especially interested in collaborating with global brands, cultural organizations, and innovators who want to explore creativity as a catalyst for connection and change.

Anyone who feels aligned with that mission can reach out through Pako Pablos Studios at [email protected] or through my official channels at pakopablos.com and @pakopablos on social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.pakopablosstudios.com
• Instagram: @pakopablos
• Facebook: @pakopablos
• Linkedin: @pakopablos
• Twitter: @pakopablos
• Youtube: @pakopablos
• Other: www.pakopablos.com store

Image Credits

Amanda San Martin
Paul Martin SD Showz