veronica pesantes shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi veronica, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Who are you learning from right now?
Joanna Rogers Macy, an environmental activist, author, scholar of Buddhism, and translator of my favorite poet Rilke. She is currently in hospice, and when recently passed, and do we have lost a truly wise elder. Her voice (you can hear her at the “On Being” podcast with Krista Tippet), is so comforting, engaging, prescient and beyond wise. Aldo my two daughters who are constantly teaching me things and keeping my ego in check.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Veronica Pesantes, I am the founder of @MiamiArtHang. For this question am defaulting to a third person account of myself written by another wiser than me friend: “Veronica, aka @vero_santes is a connector, thought leader, visionary, producer, curator, advisor, call it what you will. Vero inspires everyone in her orbit. Veronica has over twenty five years experience in the fields of education and the arts. From her beginnings as a researcher at the Prado in Madrid, she ventured on to manage the international art and education programs at the Guggenheim Museum (New York), where she trained docents and led public tours. Although her leave- of -absence from her PHD in Art History at the University of Chicago continues to this day (she is a self-proclaimed lapsed academic) she has continued to teach, publish and lecture in the US, Latin America and Europe. In all her work she serves as a bridge that connects the academic sphere to a more universal educational use, she has helped countless organizations implement change and re-think their colonialist narratives. She founded Miami Art Hang in 2024 with the goal of demystifying and democratizing the Art World.”
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My college professors who saw my potential and helped me envision a path forward after having been told as a child that my voice did not matter. In high school I was not the best student, I am pretty sure that I had undiagnosed adhd and therefore things like math and science were brutal for me, and so I let uninspiring teachers convince me I was not “college” material. When I eventually got to college and sought out courses that truly inspired me I learned that not only was I college material, I was actually grad school material. I went from a slacker to a nerd and found a true passion in academics. My college professors encouraged me to purse a doctorate in the early 90’s – at the start of affirmative action. They told me that not a lot of professors looked like me, in fact Latinas were the most under represented group in higher education. My professors forged a path for me, sadly with this administration that opportunity is getting erased from higher education. Having mentors and being in grad school at a time when truly out-of-the-box thinkers were challenging dominant narratives was a real gift. It is truly painful to see the current backlash against anything progressive and inclusive.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I am going to be a contrarian, there is a buddhist saying “pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.” I do not really think suffering teaches you much, in fact it keeps us trapped. We all have pain, look the mess of a world we are in, it is everywhere, but staying in suffering is a choice. I have known many people who have endured really hard things who still choose to stay present and appreciate life on life’s terms. And often those terms are not what we envisioned. I think our continued reliance on and addiction to social media fuels suffering, it is very hard to stay present and grateful when we are constantly bombarded with the performative, highly curated and edited lives of others.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
For the most part yes, especially my political and social justice views. Everyone is entitled to a private side, and as someone who grew up in the analog 70’s and 80’s as an only child I cringe at the over sharing on social media.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
My passion for, and knowledge of art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mimamiarthang.com
- Instagram: @miamiarthang @vero_santes
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-pesantes-vallejo-59219192/
Image Credits
graphic design Tori Lopez, photos Chris Carter
