We had the good fortune of connecting with Christian Gay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christian, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve been artistic for as long as I can remember. I struggled socially a lot growing up but art was something I could do independently, without needing friends or social skills. So it was in middle school that I began drawing and auditioned for Booker T Washington Arts Magnet. Getting into the arts magnet school really pushed me to try different mediums and go out of my comfort zone. Now I’m 24 and continuing to build my brand Art Rat, a female owned and operated art and pop culture e-zine. Long story short, I pursued a creative career to express myself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Although I am a visual artist, I find inspiration in all forms of art including music, dance, and television. A lot of my work features lyrics from my favorite musicians strewn throughout the body of work. Thriving in the art industry is never easy and requires tons of persistence. One of the most challenging personal struggles I’ve overcome is a traumatic brain injury I got in August which required brain surgery. I was in the physical rehab center at Baylor Scott & White from the end of August to the end of October. Due to the neurological damage I had, one of my biggest fears was that I would lose all of the artistic skill I’d learned over the years. A lesson I learned throughout the entire journey is to not take anything for granted.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take someone from out of town to all the cool spots in Dallas such as, CocoAndre Chocolatier and Horchateria. Another place I would take them is And Everything Nice, a hispanic owned boutique and gift shoppe in Duncanville.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Iris Candeleria, a local artist, businesswoman and owner of Candeleria’s Bakery in Dallas. She gave me my first opportunity as an intern for her art studio, which opened so many doors for me in the art industry.

Instagram: wantpins

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.