Today we’d like to introduce you to Manuel Zambrano.
Manuel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I don’t find myself very interesting. Not as interesting as much of the things that have happened around me, at least. Now, I’ll give credit to myself where credit is due, but it’s all very typical.
After having found myself outside of my mother’s womb, I spent the rest of my life trying to figure out how people work, which has since yielded little to no results. Poking people’s buttons in the wrong way has always been my forte, really. With two hardworking immigrants at the helm of an overcrowded ship, I grew up in a busy household where everyone was drowning in their own frustrations and as a result, they forgot to take the middle kid outside; I guess that should explain the former.
I began drawing for all the wrong reasons: solely for the spotlight. As I said, I was late to the party when it came to achieving something that resembled social skills and being in school was as lonely as being at home. Cartoons were always there for me and taught me everything I know, but I found myself not relating to it a lot of the time. Because I had nothing to lose, I showed everyone these strange little doodles that I made to my own liking, which sure enough got the attention I sought after, and as I developed my craft over the years, things became blatantly wrong about this and it became more therapeutic.
It’s all about deconstruction for me, these days. The more I let my mind wander, the more I learn about myself and the world around me. Art is my religion; it won’t help me pay my taxes. but it has made me a better person. In my case, however, it actually has earned me living with the events where I sell my drawings and the store I’ll be opening in May. I don’t find what I do as interesting as others have told me it is because I honestly believe anyone can do what I do. People get lost along the way and I understand that. I never know what I’m doing until I do and I constantly have anxiety over this. But the only difference between artists like me and those other people is that when given every reason to quit, we keep doing what we do because we love it more than anything else and nothing more.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Throughout my life, a lot of people thought I would be starving on the streets of Wynwood if I became an artist, and there are still a lot of times where I believe them. Unfortunately, the current climate of the art world pushes for more marketing than actual art, which has disillusioned me at times. Trends are foreign to me and I depend on my own creativity for my work, which leads to a lot of artist’s block as well. I don’t always have events and even when I do, I wish I didn’t because people are scary. But as for any actual struggles, let me just say that you really have to not be in it for the money because you never know when you’re going to get scammed into doing free work or invest in an event that never comes into fruition. However, when you’ve been a good dog, they’ll sometimes throw you a bone that makes it all worth it.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
In my opinion, art is meant to be an expression of our own humanity; something that people can easily get behind and relate with. It’s not meant to be a Barnett Newman painting that’ll be auctioned off as a conversation starter for boring elitists and treated like property that’ll gain value over time. It’s that sort of separation between the artist and the audience that tends to turn people off from art.
Of course, it can always still be a challenge, which is what I attempt to do with my brand. With my work, I aim to show the audience a part of my own reality that may be unfamiliar to theirs through stylized surrealist landscapes. I do this in hopes of others who think alike to find comfort in the fact that they’re not alone and maybe offer different perspectives for those who don’t. Now, it might not be always that serious — sometimes they’re just little brainfarts I do for my own amusement — but I always put the same amount of care into each piece because I believe you are only worth as much as your last effort and I wouldn’t want to let anyone down.
May 19, I’ll be selling art at Retro City Collectables (277 Miracle Mile, upstairs from PPole Pizza).
What have been some of the most important lessons you’ve learned over the course of your career?
I probably would’ve done more events that I should have done, but didn’t because, at the time, I was like a deer in the headlights when it came to selling myself. It truly is a trial-and-error situation, but with time, you’ll find a way to make yourself comfortable in any situation and be able to focus on what matters. I still struggle occasionally, but as long as I keep going at my own pace, things will always naturally come together.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.manuelzambrano.tk
- Email: manuelzambrano843@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/manueltacoface/
Image Credit:
Portraits taken by Lunes Oña from Valmento Media
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
