Meet Samuel “N.A.$.A” Wright

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Samuel “N.A.$.A” Wright a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Samuel “N.A.$.A”, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

When I found my righteous path within being an artist, I asked myself the question what would you do if nobody’s opinion no money no respect no one on earth else existed. That question has guided me when the going has gotten tough late nights turned to later nights and challenges have risen. Looking inward for the confidence to keep going has always been my answer because when you’re path is truly righteous, you remember what you started it all for and that gave me the will to keep going.

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 who grew up in Bellflower, specializing in cut and sew highlighted in sustainable fashion who indulges in painting and creative design.
I primarily work as a commission based artist, but enjoy doing pop-ups for the community where I make my art accessible to the public. I made my mark in Long Beach, California, hosting artistic events at my art gallery, called Environment in the heart of the city. As well as doing over 50 art shows throughout Long Beach and Los Angeles. I am now working on becoming a more exclusive brand which serves not only my collectors but also my soul in turn. Sustainability through up cycling, rare fabrics into one of one wearable art is the fuel to the machine that is my brand and MbN (MadebyNA$A) Studios.

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?

When I first started my journey, I went to Orange Coast College for apparel construction. During my time there, I learned not only from the instructors who were well-versed in the craft, but also from my peers around me. Being open minded to learning from those that surrounded me rather than just the curriculum gave me wisdom that no book can teach. Secondly, understanding that after I learned the basics of constructing garments personal research, including YouTube tutorials and other Internet based learning sources gave me the tools necessary to bring my dreams to fruition.
Third was just believing in myself enough to not limit my creative ability so I could push myself past my normal constructs to pursue other forms of art which not only expanded my abilities in art overall but gave new life to my fashion design.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield has by far been the most impactful book I’ve read when it’s come to my creative journey.
It taught me to take my artistic path serious. How could I expect an outcome from something I wasn’t willing to work for. If I would rush out of the house to get to my 9 to 5 at some corporation, but wouldn’t wake up and treat my art with that same respect how could I ever expect a meaningful return. It helped me split my mind into two parts, the CEO and the artist. The CEO hired the artist inside of me and if I didn’t show up to work, I didn’t get paid monetarily or spiritually. This helped transition me into a professional.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://MbNStudios.bigcartel.com
• Instagram: Madebynasa