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

Hi Jennifer, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
As a professional artist, I knew that I would need the skills for running my own business. My work in galleries, online, murals, and in retail shops, all act as one business. My college education did not train me in how to understand what running my own business would entail as an artist, so I learned along the way by trial and error. But I always felt confident in working hard for myself and using the internet and networking as a way to really build my business.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a professional artist contributing to my local, regional, and national art economy through decades of exhibition, festival, and public artwork installations. My artwork often tells a partial story, while allowing the viewer to add their creative ideas and feelings to the work, creating a sense of ownership and endless interpretations of the space. Each new installation or exhibition I create has given me more and more skills to understand what’s capable for a given site. I’ve moved ahead in my career by accepting new jobs and stretching my experience in the field. Having worked collaboratively with fabricators, painters, welders, concrete, metal workers, stone cutters, scaffolding, lifts, and lighting designers, has given me the understanding of the costs, fabrication, and timeline for complex public projects.

What I’ve learned along the way is that accepting new installations with a wide variety of new materials has allowed me to stretch my comfort zone, relying on other professionals to give me feedback and answer questions to grow my artistic chops and my business.

By doing this with courage, and reaching out to gallerists, bloggers, shop owners, and more, I have had the opportunity to exhibit in cities, galleries, and museums throughout the US, and be published and written about widely including: Newsweek, Readymade, House Beautiful, Glamour, HGTV, and Spaces, and in six different art and craft books.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
San Antonio is an incredible city. It ranges from small bodegas and ice houses to some of the top luxury hotels in the country, so there’s always something to check out. Some places on my list would be: Emma Hotel – hang out in the incredible lobby and bar, get a coffee and snack at Supper. Next stroll through The Pearl area and see incredible architecture and shops. Then hit any number of ice houses around the city – Dorcol, Friendly Spot, or The Dakota –  for a cold outdoor cerveza. Stretch your legs on any number of spots along the two Riverwalks we have that stretch through the downtown area and beyond. Have another bite to eat at the San Antonio Museum of Art’s restaurant Tre’ that overlooks the river. Pop into Ruby City Gallery to see incredible artwork and architecture and then walk a 1/2 block away to Chris Park’s little pocket park for a moment to sit among the plantings and duck into their small gallery hidden in the back. Next head over to Liberty Bar for a gorgeous restuarant with decent prices for a good meal and drink, and walk around the historic neighborhood that sits along the river, crossing over the historic pedestrian bridges. End your day at the Hot Wells Foot Baths and see the ruins of the Hot Wells Resort that was developed in 1892.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Yes! There have been so many people along the way that have helped make my business a success. Most recently Nowhere Bookstore in San Antonio had employed me to create a large beautiful mural for their shop and suggested me for this interview! We love Nowhere Books, a place that is inspired by “that feeling you get when lost in a good book”.

Website: https://www.jenkhoshbin.com/

Instagram: @jenkhoshbin

Facebook: JenniferKhoshbin

Image Credits
All Images are mine, Jen Khoshbin

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