November 20, 2019

Meet Catherine Longueira

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Longueira.

Catherine, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am a first-generation Cuban-American born and raised in the South Miami Heights/Cutler Ridge area. That area was pretty rough growing up and I witnessed a lot of crime and violence. However, I was always very focused on school because of the visual arts and my parents who put their education on hold to facilitate bringing the rest of the family over to the US. I always enjoyed drawing and taking pictures. However, I didn’t really have much exposure or formal education in the visual arts until I began middle school. I am so grateful for my teacher Marilyn Traeger who took me under her wing and saw something special in me. I went on to graduate from Design and Architecture Sr High and the Maryland Institute College of Art with my BFA in photography and a
MAT. My experiences in public education, my amazing educators, and various teaching internships really ignited a fire within me to not only be an artist but to also work with students to share my passion for the visual arts.

Has it been a smooth road?
The road was never smooth but I have always had a great sense of faith and perseverance. The biggest obstacle I ever faced was the loss and experience during and after Hurricane Andrew. It put my family in a very delicate situation where we lost everything including our home. However, this is also when I experienced the greatest resilience. So many opportunities grew out of such utter devastation. I wasn’t ever really sure if I would finish high school and much less attend college. But here we are today.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Artful Aces Portfolio Advising and my personal fine art have grown largely from my past professional experiences. I have worked as an art educator and professional fine art photographer for the past 15 years. My fine art photography stems from a love of boudoir photography, historical references, the human form, and exploiting the concept of time using long exposure techniques. I enjoy bringing as much of my professional experience into what I do in the classroom. As an art educator, my specialty is photography which has been amazing to share my passion with thousands of young Miami artists. Many have gone on to pursue amazing careers in design, photography, biology, medicine, law, and more! I never approach teaching with the expectation that a student will make it a career, but rather to foster creativity and provide them with tools which will make them unique candidates in whichever field they decide to pursue. I most enjoy helping students discover their inner artists, building their self-confidence, giving them hope, and building a sense of community. I fully understand the power that the visual arts can have in shaping someone’s future. Therefore, I take great care in really seeing each child for who they are and showing them that circumstances are merely temporary bumps on their unique path to success.

Additionally, my experience attending DASH, MICA, and as an educator has given me incredible insight as a private Visual Arts portfolio advisor.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
The college admissions and visual art worlds have become very lucrative and competitive over the course of the last 10 or so years. Both industries are cutthroat and in order to be successful, you really need to be secure in your artistry and what you can uniquely offer. Many of my portfolio clients are non-Art majors. A visual arts portfolio demonstrates critical thinking skills and creativity which can make them stand out from the thousands of other college applicants. From our very own state universities to other private colleges all around the US, including Ivy League. It also assists in securing competitive scholarships. The best advice I could provide any artist is to always create, experiment, learn your medium of choice until it becomes an extension of your soul, and to network heavily. Get out there and make genuine connections with people in your community. The art world is not easy especially if you’re not well connected but continue to push. Do not be afraid to create your own opportunities when needed.

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