Meet Teresa Flowers

 

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

Teresa, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

Discovering my purpose happened unexpectedly in a photography class right out of high school, I was asked to create a self-portrait. I chose to do a double exposure with my mom over myself. When a well-known photographer in the community saw my print and asked me what it meant, I realized that my art was expressing emotions and secrets deep from within.

My mom had AIDS during the ’90s, a time when there was so much fear and misunderstanding. I used my art to process those feelings. When that photographer saw my soul through my work, I felt a mix of fear and excitement—like falling in love. That moment made me realize that my purpose is to create art that reveals hidden truths and connects with others on a deep level. That was just the start of my artist journey.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I have been an artist and photographer for almost 30 years, but in the last five years, I’ve channeled my passions into my business, Alien Mermaid Cove. It’s a modern, vintage, festival, accessories and apparel shop on Hawthorne Boulevard in Portland, Oregon.

Running this shop excites me because it allows me to combine my love for art, music, and fashion, and connect with creative individuals from all over the world.

I’m proud to share that I won third place for Best Artist in the Willamette Weekly in 2024, and my shop, Alien Mermaid Cove, also won third place for Best Resale Shop.

I’m excited to expand the shop this year and offer even more unique products.

Alongside this, I’m also the lead singer and lyric writer of Hyena, a melodic technical doom band, and we’ve just released our first demo.

Additionally, my solo project, Pink Crush, allows me to explore a unique sound that defies genres.

Under my in-house brand, Altered States, we’re creating new accessories, apparel, and clothing from recycled materials that would otherwise end up in the landfill, turning them into wearable art. We’ll be releasing a range of new products this year, alongside Alien Mermaid Cove Products and Teresa Flowers Fine Art products.
This summer, I’m thrilled to be hosting an outdoor immersive art event, blending my art and music to create an unforgettable experience.

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

Looking back, the qualities that truly propelled me in my art journey were my passion, dedication, and hard work. My intuition also played a big role, guiding me through creative decisions, and my charisma helped me share my vision and connect with others. Developing strong people skills and learning how to sell my art were crucial. I remember my first market, where stepping out of my comfort zone to engage with people made all the difference.

My advice to those starting out is to embrace learning, take those photography classes, and find mentors. I’ve had mentors from different fields, and each one added a new layer to my growth. Diversifying your experiences and connecting with other artists and entrepreneurs can really set you on the right path.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most impactful thing my my mother taught me was to never give up. She showed me the importance of fighting for yourself, what you believe in, standing up for the truth, and always being open-minded. I’ll never forget when I was 14 and she told me how if you stood in a dark room with a cube and punched a bunch of different holes in it and put a light in it, that all the lights streaming out could be a ll the lives you could be living at once. That idea deeply influenced my art,. I lost my mom at an early age so this reminds me to always keep an open mind and never stop exploring.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Jason Caney-Peterson
Ben Paulson

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your