Episode 12: Liz Flores

Rachel Kobus 0:09
Welcome to Redbird Buzz. I'm Rachel Kobus with alumni engagement. Today we are joined by Liz Flores, a Chicago based painter and muralist. Liz is most known for her contemporary paintings, prints and murals that depict the female body by using shape, color and form as a mode of visual storytelling. After earning her degree in entrepreneurship and small business management at Illinois State in 2012, Liz entered the corporate sector. Finding out that art made her feel a true sense of fulfillment, She made the leap into the art world seven years ago. In this time, she has been a speaker at TEDx normal and creative morning Chicago, she co created an interactive art installation titled "The world we want" on Chicago's Michigan Avenue, and has collaborated with major brands like Lululemon, Target, the Chicago Bulls, and most recently, the Chicago White Sox. Her work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the US and is driven by her interest in community, womanhood and self reflection.

Today, we are joined by artist, muralist and entrepreneur Liz Flores. So Liz, what's the word Redbird? Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Liz Flores 1:18
Hi, thank you so much for having me. Um, my name is Liz. I am a painter in Chicago, currently talking to you from my home studio. And yeah, just painting, making a lot of artwork getting ready after this call to head to another mural that I'm working on in the city.

Rachel Kobus 1:39
So awesome. That's what's going on. staying busy then. Yeah, just talking about before we started this, that Liz is very much thriving with her her business and her artwork. And we're so happy to have you. So I wanted to get us started with of course that you have some connection to Illinois State. I know you're a legacy. And we love having you as a Redbird. So can you talk a little bit about why Illinois State and you know, the unique path I think that you started with because you are a college of business graduate. And you just said you're gonna go paint a mural. So let's talk a little bit about where you started to how you got to where you are.

Liz Flores 2:16
Okay. Yes, I graduated in 2012. Which is kind of crazy to think about. And, yeah, it's yeah, when I see the Facebook, like, you know, 11 years ago, I'm like, No, it's not it can't be. So my dad went to Illinois State, so did my aunt, my uncle. And so yeah, and when I say it was always just one of the options that, you know, I was like, Oh, of course, I'm gonna apply there and visited campus. And it just was kind of a perfect fit for me. And just wanting, you know, a typical, like, kind of campus feel. But I didn't want to do anything kind of too big. So I thought about, you know, maybe going to school somewhere in the city. But I think at that point, I wasn't ready for city life. I needed to kind of like, you know, it was my first time, like, going to be away from home and stuff. And so and I come from a pretty big family, and we're all like, together all the time. So it was kind of a it was a big deal for me to be going two and a half hours away. It may not seem like it's very far. But back then it that felt very far for me. So, um, yeah. And ISU just seemed like the perfect place. So, went to ISU, part of the college of Business wasn't really thinking about art, necessarily. I mean, I had always wanted to do, I always wanted to study art. And I thought about like, okay, maybe I should do like an art minor or something like that, because I always really loved drawing and sketching. But I think at the time, it just seemed like, Well, my parents were like, I not really sure about an art career, like, what does that even mean? Yeah. And honestly, I could not really give a great answer. And this was also pre like Instagram and everything like that. So it's not like we were seeing a lot of artists and all the work that they're doing. And I think at the time, I was just thinking about art in like, the traditional sense of paintings and galleries. And so, yeah, so I chose business. My, my dad owns a small business. And so I decided to study small business management and entrepreneurship. And yeah, and that actually ended up being what I what I was what I'm doing now.

Rachel Kobus 4:37
Yeah, it is. And it's funny, like, yeah, it's inspiring too, though, like, so obviously, you then you graduated and had this degree in entrepreneurial studies, small business management. But what was that aha moment because you didn't jump into being an artist and muralist right away correct. So what, what inspired you than that? Ah, Ha, like,

Liz Flores 5:01
this is yeah, I worked for a company in the city after I graduated, I just had like a, you know, a nine to five corporate job for three years. And I, in the first year quickly learned that I didn't really like just nine to five work. Or just kind of the grind, I just really don't know, I was like, you know, I think I just want to be my own boss, but I don't know what that means. And so I feel like my second education started of just like trying to meet other people that were entrepreneurs. And then I started to kind of get back into art. So then I started to meet artists in the city. And I feel like it was not like an aha moment, it was more like, like a crawl to like, finally making a decision. And it took like, it really took three years of, you know, just talking to a lot of people and figuring out what does an artist's day even look like? Because it's not very traditional. And it's not really something that you can get, I guess, kind of easily look up. And, and I wanted to understand, like, how do you make money? And what is like, yes, yeah, yes, like, so if you may, if you're living off your art, like, what does that look like? And could I do it? And then the other half of that is like, well, what kind of art am I even going to do? And am I even going to be like any good at it, like, I haven't done art in so long. And so I, I rented out a studio, an art studio in the west loop of Chicago during those during like, the two year period. And I would go there and work on my personal art after work. And I just after three years finally hit a point where I was like, you know, I think I'm just gonna, just gonna take a leap here. Yeah, I'm young I, you know, I, I can do it. And I if I fall flat on my face, I can always figure something out. So yeah, and that was kind of the moment but it was not, it was definitely I did not have like, one aha moment. Okay. It was just constant, like, every day for a couple years, like, I really want to do something else. And I really want to do something else. And I think just surrounding myself with the right people that kind of showed me that there were other avenues.

Rachel Kobus 7:18
Yeah, no, that makes sense. And like you said, I think you're talking what a lot of entrepreneurs might go through where it's never Aha, it's you have to work to do it, you know, to make it work and be successful at it. So what what did you take from your degree or your skills, kind of from the entrepreneur side that started making you think I can be successful? I can do this, I can manage it. So I mean, I guess my question is, what's it take to be an artist? But manage your business? Because art is your business now?

Liz Flores 7:45
Yeah. So and there's about by the way, there's a thunderstorm happening right now...

Rachel Kobus 7:49
Right? That's right.

If you hear any thunder or loud, like, yeah, that's Sure. storm happening right now. So that's that. But um, I think what was really great about that my time at ISU in my business degree was that when I was approaching art, which is like, I think, like, what I saw lacking in a lot of artists that I was meeting was that they weren't approaching it with a business sense. I mean, art is obviously, like, your passion goes into it, like who you are, is going into it. And it feels very romantic. But I think if you're going to make a living off of it, there is a business component to it. If you don't want to make a living, then that you don't have to worry about that. But I, I like I immediately approached it with like, Well, how am I going to market? Who am I going to network network with? You know, like, what are all the different revenue streams? I'm going to need because I can't just be selling paintings in the beginning. And so I was, I think, because I just came from a business background. And because I was in the entrepreneurship program, I did have friends that were starting businesses and things like that. I just came at it with I had like that kind of angle from the beginning. Yeah. And just having that mindset straight straight into it, I think is just was really helpful. Because I, you know, again, I'm looking at it as a business like, yes, of course, it's art. And I think art and business when you kind of you don't think that they go together. Yeah, yeah. You're just like, you're just making whatever one or the other. Yeah, yeah, whatever you want. And you definitely want I mean, I was like, I need to find a style that I like, that feels very authentic to me. And I want to make paintings about things that are important to me. And I also like need to sell or make money somehow. And so I think approaching it that way, was very helpful. And I think I was able to do that because I was coming from that business background.

Yeah. And that's amazing. And I mean looking. You can go and see Liz's site looking at her artwork. It's, it's amazing. It's inspiring. I know, you focus very much on the female body and what comes from within. And you've, you've done many murals, many projects, many paintings, but can you talk about? So maybe that's not an aha moment, either. But how did you get into this style of artwork? Then once you figured out like, this is the path I'm going, this is my passion. I know, this is my style. What-- How did that happen?

Liz Flores 10:26
Yeah. So when I was trying to figure out my style, I first started I was like, well, like when I was doing art consistently, like in, you know, maybe high school, a little bit of college. I was doing more like portraits and more realistic, I would say, drawings. So I was like, Well, let me like, try to go back to that like that would that's like my step one, because that's the last thing I can kind of remember that I really liked doing. And I was like, wow, I'm really not into this anymore. So it's interesting how your style changes and how you just are like, No, it's not doing that's not really making me excited anymore. And so when I, then this is like, when I was now on Instagram, and there were so many artists on there, posting all their work. And I was like, wow, it was fantastic. To see all these projects that people were doing. So that expanded my just like, oh, like, look at like all this, like contemporary art abstract art like a lot of figurative art. It was like a museum like yours. Yeah, I was like, Yeah. And I was like, Oh, I really am drawn to this kind of work. And so I think I just, it's almost like taking notes on yourself is like, what am I drawn to? Like, What do I naturally just kind of like, want to look at for a longer period of time? What do I want to even own? And so all of that kind of helped me figure out like, okay, like, I'm actually really drawn to more contemporary, contemporary work, abstract work, I really, like I want to do work around like the female body. And then and I think more recently has been more work focused on like, being Latina, and like more of like, my heritage. Yes. So um, yeah. And so that's kind of how I like kind of whittled it down like that. And it took all it took a couple of years, my, because at first I was like, I'm just doing a lot of like, black and white kind of line work. And then I was like, Well, I think I want to add color now, but what kind of color? And so you're just kind of constantly asking yourself questions, and observing what you just on your own, naturally gravitate to, like, you know, what you like, your job is just to figure it out, and then do that. But you just inherently have stuff that you're just drawn to that, you know, I like that color. I'm not really drawn to that color. And so yeah, I think it was just a lot of practice and like test runs. And you have to be willing to like make something and then you're like, oh, like maybe not. Maybe that's

Rachel Kobus 13:04
that seems like a theme right now. It's not just about your artwork, but your your business as well, too. It really is about practice, failure, not liking it, retrying it and being okay to retry to and accepting that because I think a lot of people have a hard time saying like, I can't do it. I'm done. Like, yeah, we're done. I don't I want to try a second time. So the fact that you have, you've asked yourself so many questions and along the way have just figured it out. I think it's just fascinating and it's amazing to So kudos to you. Because again, your artwork at the end is telling you go look at Liz's work because very inspiring. And what you say about the color choices like now you saying that and just looking at and maybe have some pieces printed out here. So I'm looking at like Lululemon and their Chicago like, yoga studio, I know, you just did like, that's amazing. Just some of the stuff you've done with the Chicago Bulls and trying to think what else I saw, there was what the Soho House like, all that's and you can tell it's, you have a brand though, and you can tell that you enjoy and you love what you do, because your brand is just consistent throughout all the work that you do for all these businesses and for yourself. So it really is amazing. So

Liz Flores 14:15
thank you,thank you so much. Yeah, and it feels good to like, you know, when you do figure out the style that is resonating with you right now, it feels really good to just, I think the next step and then a lot of people you know, they're like, Well, how do you like translate that to like a brand? Like the Bulls? Yeah. And I think you just have to remember just not to comp not to compromise your style. And I think that that's like the interesting challenge when you're doing when you're like a fine artist and you're collaborating with like a brand that you know, it's like oh gosh, how do I figure out like logo and like this and that? Yeah, I like that's the challenge is how do I incorporate my art into something that is more commercial? Yeah. And so I just think, yeah, I think people kind of see it like, those two worlds can't live together. But instead, I think it's just like a really interesting challenge. And I think it, it's, I think those collaborations are really nice, because they allow art to be a lot more accessible to a lot of people, yes. Because a gallery is a very intimidating place for a lot of people. And also, you know, pricing, it just might not be in the price range of a lot of people that do want to collect your work. Whereas if you're doing a collaboration with, like a sports brand, or even, or like a clothing brand, or something like that, you know, a clothing store might not be as intimidating or a game, you know, a basketball game or a baseball game, might that's not going to be intimidating to a lot of people. And so, you know, you're doing some kind of collaboration with them. That's an opportunity for someone to collect your work in a different way. And so it makes art a lot more accessible.

Rachel Kobus 15:59
Yeah, I never even thought of it that way. That's, that's amazing. You've really like opened the box and jumped outside of it and found every opportunity possible just to make art available to everybody. And, and art, I just think art makes us happy. Like that mean, rather than doing it or looking at it. Like that's what I think about any of the fine arts right, like music and acting and art, like it just it releases something just makes us happy. So to be able to access it more, I think you're like nailing it on the head. That's absolutely something I've never thought of before. But how inspiring is that too so thank you for sharing that. That was amazing.

So you know, with that too, and we talked a little bit about some of your projects, but you've you've grown your business, you've grown these projects, you've become a muralist. Now, too. So what's been your favorite so far? Like? What are like, what are you working on that maybe is your favorite, if you can talk about it, or maybe a past one?

Liz Flores 16:52
think I think by now, I think by the time this gets released, I think all the projects will be released. So but I did a collaboration with the White Sox, we're doing a t-shirt giveaway. And I'm very excited about that. And because it's a sports team that's like, just very near and dear to my heart, because my family is, you know, we grew up going to Sox games. And so we're doing that giveaway, September 1, this week, and the first like, 10,000 people in the game get like the shirt. And so again, it's just really cool. And it's like, I like the challenge of like, how do you make your art, you know, work on like T shirt and things like that. I would say I loved doing. I did a mural for the Bears about two years ago, I think now. And I love that too, because it was an outdoor project. I've done a lot of murals, but a lot of them have been indoors. And so this one was outdoors in this alley in Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, right by the Wilson red line. Okay, and so I just loved that it's, you know, just like on this, like, kind of, it's called like the Uptown like Art alley, I think. And yeah, and so I just love that you can like walk down this alley, and there's just murals and art installed, like all over the place. And just the process of doing that mural. It was so challenging. I remember being it was so hot, but it's like those murals that kind of almost like you have, you're figuring out like how to work with the weather and everything. And it's like, it's like, your body hurts, but it's like a good hurt. You know? I love this. I love Yeah, you're like, you're like, "I like my job. I like my job I like my job" and I feel like after you're done you're like you just there's like an a bigger sense of accomplishment, I think with I'm sure. Like that. Yeah. And then yeah. And then I think just like, painting wise, because, you know, part of my business is murals. And then the other part is like paintings. I think just my my solo show that I did last year, honestly, I think I just loved everything that I created for that show. It was I got to make whatever I wanted. Yeah, um, you know, in it, you just, that's kind of the dream, I felt like I really had realized the dream with that show is like I get to make, you know, 10 to 15 pieces of art and I get in, it's just whatever I want. And so and I got to like touch on a lot of topics and things that I wanted to touch on. So yeah, those are some of my favorites.

Rachel Kobus 19:35
Oh, yeah. And you have so many to choose from. And if you're okay, the one that stuck out to me because, again, this is what I do. I have to do research and don't call it stalking, do research on our alums and interview Yeah. But you got to travel to Mexico and in I mean, just all the pictures you post on your Instagram account and then that inspired you to create a printed piece which sold out, I saw that so, I know this might have been a little bit ago, but I just thought that was fascinating too that. Like because you brought up that you're trying to bring in more of that Latino culture and heritage back into your art. So So what was that like that you got to a company, right, paid for you to go travel and help inspire your artwork more so yes. So I'm sorry to bring that up. I just thought that was.

Liz Flores 20:21
That was like the ultimate dream because I have been wanting to go to I want to San Miguel Allende. Okay, um, my family is still in Mexico, in Mexico City. And then, like in Vikiscapan. And so I had wanted to go to San miguel for a long time. And I was like, ah, you know, I'll just, I'll just go myself. And then this company The Jaunt, which is a company that I've been following for a couple years, and I've been, you know, I've watched them send so many artists to all these different places. And it was always in the back of my mind, like, Oh, I hope that one day they reach out to me, because there's no application process. It's just them. Choose like curating really, they just choose artists that kind of come onto their radar. And if they like your work, they'll reach out to you. And so when they reached out to me in the beginning of the year, I was like, This is wild. Like I've been waiting for years. And yeah, and they were like, you know, do you have any kind of thoughts on like, where you want to go? And I was like, Yes, I do. And I, part of it was like, you know, I had gone to Cuba. A couple weeks before or a week before the Mexico trip, I went to Cuba with my family for the first time, I'm half Cuban, half Mexican. And so then then I did the Mexico Trip A week later with The Jaunt and so that and so both of those trips are just, I mean, it was just filled with like, inspiration, just like so much like, I was like eye candy everywhere. And so I just like I was like, Oh my God, everything is incredible. Amazing. The colors, the food. And so yeah, the people. Yeah, so it was incredible. I always love traveling and to have my artwork now kind of like paying for my travel or sending me on these on these trips is just also like a dream come true. And then now that I'm back, yeah, I'm creating a print for them. That will then be sent out to everyone who purchased it and who pre purchase the print. And then I have a solo show in Chicago in December, at Vertical gallery. And the trips that I just went on to Cuba and Mexico trip are also going to be inspiration for that.

Rachel Kobus 22:41
That's it in December at Vertical gallery in Chicago. Her artwork, amazing and then you get to talk to a Redbird and inspiring entrepreneur. And I have to mention she was also the Entrepreneurial Alumnus of the Year last year for Illinois State University so I mean there are reasons why companies are are you know looking at Liz Flores and her artwork and sending her to create you know, more art and you again, amazing talent, amazing art and just you are an amazing Redbird and so again, that's why I'm so happy we got to talk so much.

Liz Flores 23:19
I really appreciate you guys reaching out I always appreciate like, ISU, my ISU people and going back to visit and things like that it always brings back great memories

Rachel Kobus 23:37
that was 2012 College of Business alum Liz Flores. Thanks for listening to Redbird Buzz--tune in next time for more stories from beyond the quad.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai