On Standing Up for Yourself and Your Work: An Interview with Juanita Segovia
Every year, bbatx curates a monthly residency highlighting the work of 10 to 15, Texas-based women and nonbinary visual and musical artists that create work and perform in our programs. As we move to take our programs online, we’ve partnered with Bumble to launch a digital version of The Residency. From now through November 1, 2020, you can tune in for weekly mixes, visuals and workshops from 16 women and nonbinary artists and DJs.
Today, we’ve got an interview with Juanita Segovia, the Austin-based designer and illustrator behind Shop Suerte. In conversation with bbatx staff member Margeaux Labat, Juanita talks about their artistic roots, how they remain connected to their younger self through their art, and prioritizing mental health during quarantine.
ABOUT JUANITA SEGOVIA:
Juanita Segovia (they/them) is an Austin-based creative specializing in design, illustration, and screen printing. Utilizing a stream of consciousness method of creating, Juanita’s drawings are often an unpredictable combination of reappropriated popular imagery and original designs and writing. Their work comes to life as limited edition zines, prints, apparel and other art objects— emphasizing a fun, accessible, and DIY approach to creating. You can keep up with Juanita at @suerte.universe and @goodluckjuanita on Instagram.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got into making art?
I am a designer and illustrator in Austin, Texas originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Tulsa is a really small town and there wasn't a lot to do there when I was growing up, so my parents really wanted us to have hobbies so we wouldn't get into trouble. I was a really energetic kid so I wanted to try everything from dance to music to sports, but art was the only thing that really captured my attention. My parents signed me up for "urban" fine art outreach programs, and it was one of the few times growing up that I had access to art classes and art in museums. It taught me that art could be fun, accessible, and anyone was capable of doing it!
Going to a fine arts college in Missouri and studying graphic design really tested me in terms of finding out what I was passionate about, and even made me question my ability and commitment to my craft. My design program was quite rigid and didn't allow a lot of room for exploration, to be honest it was also discouraged. Everything felt so boring and sterile after a while. As one of the few people of color at my school, who also happened to be a non-binary lesbian, I didn't always fit into these boxes other people wanted me to fit in for their own comfort. I had to learn how to stand up for myself and my work. Reflecting on my experience there now, I found it really difficult to go from growing up in a small town where I knew everyone and seeing people that looked like me to going to a predominantly white institution. It was kind of a culture shock. While there wasn't a lot of support from my peers or professors, the few friends I made there really inspired me to keep pursuing art. When I left school and moved to Austin, the ability to do whatever I wanted was so liberating. I was surrounded by other queer artists of color. I really enjoyed the freedom to be able to try everything at once without pressure or fear of critique. I love feeling connected to my younger self who enjoys creating just because it's fun.
From whom or what do you draw the most inspiration from?
I draw inspiration from literally anything and everything! Pop culture, having fun, being happy, feeling sad, and the promise that there are always better days ahead. I'm really interested in tarot, astrology, and numerology, so those things have also found their way into my work. I'm a big believer in signs from the universe and the power of manifesting. It might sound silly or naive but I really try to keep my work positive and happy, even when it's about something difficult or unsettling. Some artists I really love are Sonya Sombreuil, Jeffrey Cheung, Emma Kohlmann, Rachel Howe, Isa Beniston and Yumi Sakugawa.
How has your art evolved over time?
My art is constantly evolving because I like to try new things or else I will get bored. I am always coming up with new ideas, and I'm really fortunate to be surrounded by people who help bring those ideas to fruition!
Right before the lockdown, I got into screen printing on denim. I'm always trying to think of ways to make my practice more sustainable, and I really enjoyed the process of getting to make something new out of something that was already worn and loved by someone else. I'm hoping to work on screen printing and sewing original pieces once I'm able to get into the studio and print again. It's something I've never tried before and took a lot of trial and error. Trying lots of new things means some work and some don't. Most don't. I really enjoy that process.
Has your relationship to your art changed at all during this time of quarantine? If so, how?
When we were first put on lockdown, I had this idea that I was going to be productive and create something every day and post it on Instagram. But I was so burnt out after a few weeks adjusting to working from home, managing all of my side hustles, while navigating the pandemic and my personal life that creating began to feel like a chore for me. I really try to take time to honor my feelings and prioritize my mental health, and remind myself that it's okay to create just for me sometimes.
What is your ideal environment and headspace to be in when making your art?
Ideally, I would like to have my own studio or space to just create and explore. Right now my studio is everywhere (my kitchen, my sofa, my front porch) but I'm making the best of it. The most important thing is that I want my work to make me and other people happy.