Meet Luis Emmanuel Perez | East Texas Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Luis Emmanuel Perez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Luis Emmanuel, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have always been more artistically oriented. I was interested in drawing and painting from an early age but when I graduated high school I was convinced I could not make a living on an artistic career. Instead I pursued a career in advertising. I studied graphic design and advertising at Kilgore College and learned that I could use my creative talents to produce interesting and somewhat successful ads. Thankfully, I discovered I was a very decent advertiser and continued on that path for a little over 10 years. However, I was not truly happy and continuously sought out creative projects to take part in. At the same time, I also discovered a passion for education and working with young people through volunteer work. It was this volunteer work that led me to reconsider where I was headed professionally. I found both art and education to be the most fulfilling things in my life, and after so much prayer and consideration, plus making sure I had the support of my family, I decided to quit my advertising job and go back to school in pursuit of an education degree. I was accepted at the University of Texas at Tyler. It was here that I took advanced painting as one of my elective classes and was encouraged by my professor to consider a career in art. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that everything pointed me to continue pursuing art as a full time career.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am not sure if there is something in my art that sets me apart yet. I am still developing my own style. I am most of all a figurative artist, and I find beauty in overlooked moments, things and places. Lately, I have been exploring the subjects of intimacy and color theory. My latest artworks consist of portraits with the goal of creating a moment of intimacy between the artwork and the audience. I am also very interested in hands, the way we use them, the role they play in intimacy and how so many subtle messages are sent trough them without us really noticing. Some of my work consists of cropped views of intimate moments in which all the audience sees is the interactions between the subjects’ hands. At the same time, I have also begun to explore my artistic heritage. As an immigrant, my roots are in Mexico and I have begun to look back at the art of the ancient Mayans and Aztec civilizations. I don’t want to just use their symbols and art in a decorative manner for my own artwork, I want to explore the meaning and significance their art held. As a matter of fact I am trying to learn the Nahuatl (Aztec) and Yucatec (Mayan) languages in order to get more insight. I am not sure why I have been drawn to the subject of intimacy so much, but I believe a big part of it was the isolation we all experienced during the pandemic. Social distancing was very difficult and it was right at this time that I re-started my academic journey. I am in my last semester at UT Tyler and will be earning my bachelor degree in the fall. There have been so many obstacles for me to get here, mostly financial unfortunately, but my family have been there for me in this area too. Not only have they given me moral support, but they have also helped me financially. It has not been easy to live on a tight budget, but I have learned to prioritize my needs and to manage stress a lot better. I had forgotten how stressful school is once you add the financial aspect. One of the biggest things I have learned this time around is that help is there if you ask for it. As a DACA student, I am not privileged to received federal financial aid, including loans, so I’ve had to find assistance through other means. Not having access to traditional forms of financial aid has also given me a new perspective about it. Every time I receive a scholarship or support in any way I count it as a blessing.
My hope for my art is that it may bring a moment of clarity for its audience. I believe art in any form is a way to connect with the spiritual world, my hope is that my paintings and other artworks help people find that connection, however brief it may be.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am not a very outgoing person. I enjoy the outdoors more than I do venues or events, parks and state parks are probably the places I enjoy the most. However, when it comes to food, that is a completely different matter. I really enjoy a fancy meal! I guess I would start the day with the best coffee in East Texas at Silver Grizzly Espresso in Longview and then head to Tyler to visit the TMA (Tyler Museum of Art) and perhaps a walk in Bergfeld Park before grabbing a bite at the newest Ramen restaurant, Ichiban Ramen. From there who knows, perhaps a shopping spree at the local shops or a movie at the fancy movie theaters. Please don’t judge me for my taste in “fun” hahaha.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh wow, there are a lot of people that I would like to thank and give credit for where I am now. First of all my family, my brothers and my other have been nothing but supportive in my career decisions. My brother Kristian has been exceptionally supportive and insightful, he has helped me to think through and consider my options at every turn. He believes in me more than I believe in myself. Although, I guess I can say that about my mother and my other brother as well. There are other people who have always had faith in my artistic abilities, like my high school art teacher (who I am still in contact with today), Mrs. Graham, she always encouraged me to look beyond my present limitations and to believe I could do anything I set my mind to. I would also like to shoutout my ex-boss and now friend, Rod Knighten, he was my mentor in more than just professional matters. I worked for Mr. Knighten in many capacities thought the years, developing a very deep respect for his work ethic and eventually becoming good friends with him. He took me under his wing and taught me everything from office etiquette to gardening, tools, and interpersonal skills. A big part of who I am today is thanks to the VERY persistent mentoring of this man. I will always be thankful that I answered that faithful phone call so many years ago for a part time job. I was also blessed with the support and help of friends, other family members and the members of my local church, to which I have assisted for over 15 years.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luispm_art/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuispmART