Rising Stars: Meet BrassTuna

Today we’d like to introduce you to BrassTuna.

Hi BrassTuna, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I first started BrassTuna I was still in high school. It’s been quite a few years now and I’ve gone through many changes with what BrassTuna “really is.” When I first started BrassTuna I sold hand-made stickers around my school. After a while, I stopped and let go of BrassTuna completely. It wasn’t until four years later, in January of 2021 I decided to pick up BrassTuna again. At the time, I was sewing a lot, and I decided to sell some of my garments through my Instagram page. After a few months, I decided to take a break from sewing and posting altogether. It wasn’t until the later half of 2021 that I picked up BrassTuna once again, and it started to shift once more. This time I had decided that I wanted to use all of the skills I had learned, and combine them all into one.

Thus creating what I believe BrassTuna is now. A public journal of my growth as an artist. Now I center my focus on the visual arts aspect of my skill set, whether that be photography, painting, sewing, etc. BrassTuna is a way in which I am able to express myself, and my ideas as an artist, as freely as I can. BrassTuna is always growing and shifting, just as I am. I’m very thankful to the people in my life that have encouraged me to continue doing what I do! If it wasn’t for them, I most likely would have stopped creating long ago.

BrassTuna isn’t a “brand.” Instead it’s a term in which I describe myself and my work.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It’s most definitely been a bumpy road for BrassTuna, but I like to look at it always as a learning experience. I’ve had to learn that, though this is a “passion project” for me, if I wanted other people to respect the work I put in, I’d have to treat BrassTuna almost as a business at times. I think at the beginning of BrassTuna I really struggled to find my feet, and at times I still do! Mostly due to me being so protective over BrassTuna. It feels almost like my child at times, and I want to protect the energy that she puts out into the world.

I’m not sure if I’m able to explain it correctly through words, but BrassTuna has been down many roads, and I couldn’t be happier with the way in which it’s grown. Though certain roads have been bumpy, it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have gone down them. There’s a learning experience in everything we do, and even when I step into the studio, 2 years later, it’s guaranteed that I’m going to step out with something new learned, even if I struggled in some way to get there.

I want people, and especially artists, to understand that there will most definitely be bumpy roads on their art journey. That’s with everything in life! As for artists though, we sometimes have experiences that strike us a little different. We are our art. Our art comes directly from our souls. It’s because of this that we want to protect it from anything or anyone, but the freedom and liberation you get by putting your work out there is what could help inspire the next person. It’s those moments that help motivate yourself to keep going.

If I let a “bumpy road” stop me, BrassTuna would’ve never made it out of 2017. Here we are now in 2023 with no plans on stopping anytime soon! Though a regular break is necessary at times haha!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I don’t consider myself a “photographer,” but instead a Visual Artist! I first began painting and drawing at a very young age, with the help of my grandmother. It was then that I started to build the foundation for my art journey. Throughout time, I’ve always been the type of artist to view something new, whether that be from a museum or on social media, and immediately want to recreate it. It’s because of that curiosity in me that led me to learn to sew and pursue photography. I think these skill sets have been the determining factors that set me apart from other artists.

Every artist is uniquely themselves, but for me, I feel what sets me apart is my true passion for it. At no point have I ever felt like I wanted to pursue art simply for a paycheck. I feel that art is so strongly a part of who I am as a person, that creating art with the intent of it being sold or marketed is just not something I’m open to. I want to create works that make people want to talk. As for what I’m “known for,” I think the main thing I like to tell people is that everything I do is done “in camera.” Meaning I don’t use photoshop to edit in a backdrop or manipulate the photo. I do appreciate artists who use photoshop and manipulate the photo, almost like a painting, but it’s just not something BrassTuna specializes in!

When I was younger, I was taught the value of being creative. Becoming resourceful with my materials. My shoots and headpieces are created with leftover cardboard or scrap pieces of paper. Headpieces are made with leftover fabrics from previous projects. I’ve never spent more than $70 to make a photo shoot happen, and this is a skill that I never want to let go of. Resourcefulness produces creativity. I do also try and make sure that all my work is tied in some way to my culture, childhood, and identity. I like for my stories to be tied back to myself on the human level!

Something else that I think is very important to note about BrassTuna is where a majority of my drive comes from. I feel very inspired by the artists around me, and especially to the artists I look up to, and have for years. One of BrassTuna’s biggest inspirations has to be the one and only Beyoncé. The work that her and her team put into everything they do has truly impacted me and my work ethic over the years. I feel a strong connection with the willingness and commitment they all share, for the sake of expressing themselves through art. If it wasn’t for Beyoncé and her team, I can confidently say that BrassTuna would not exist.

Lastly, I think I am most proud of the ideas that I’m able to accomplish. I am lucky enough to work out of my own personal studio, which is the main reason I’m able to do what I do. I’m able to paint on my backdrops, cut holes in my backdrop, have different lighting setups, etc. My ideas are not confined to “what I’m allowed to do,” but instead “what I’m capable of doing.”

What do you like and dislike about the city?
This is an interesting question because I think what I like/dislike about Phoenix is the same answer. I think there has been this underlying issue with the art “community” in Phoenix over the past couple of years. In turn, this has sprouted many new and upcoming smaller communities of artists. I’ve seen that many people have been made out to feel silenced due to bigger communities being highly competitive for the wrong reasons. As I mentioned, it’s because of this that has created smaller groups of genuine artists who want to put out their work, grow, and learn from each other. I’m lucky enough to have found a very strong support system due to this!

I want brasstuna to be a voice for people who have had similar issues. Those types of experiences can make you feel silenced and as though you are not worthy of being showcased. I feel that is 100% false. I’ve never let anyone determine my future and my success. I continue to work and push through difficult times, while growing and understanding the circumstances. If anyone who’s reading this has felt shunned or outcasted by people that they once respected, just know that consistency and hard work is the greatest power. Phoenix has a lot to offer, you just have to be willing to put in the work, and put yourself out there! Oh but on a less serious note lol, I also dislike the heat here in Phoenix haha. The winters are ok though, I guess.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brasstuna/

Image Credits
BrassTuna and Itzel N.