Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriela Peraza.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My name is Gabriela, and Barquisimeto, Venezuela was the city that saw me born. When I was six years old, I moved to Ciudad Ojeda, another city in my country. Separating from everything I knew was a challenge. I still vividly remember the transition, but eventually, and with much patience, I started to feel at home at my new place. From a tender age, I showed a defined interest for the arts. My favorite outings were to museums, art galleries, and libraries. I, also, had a fascination for the theater. The colors and costumes adsorbed me in and transported me to all sorts of different worlds. Around the age of 9, I began to paint ceramics. It was a beautiful outlet for my creative hunger, and it gave me a more intimate introduction to the visual arts. On another note, I had a passion for modeling and wanted to pursue it, ever since I was in preschool. Always a sensitive, hyper-intuitive child, I also felt different. I also felt like I didn’t fit in. But, I fit in with art, I felt at home when I learned about the culture or history of a faraway place. I used to sit in front of a world map my grandma gave us, as my eyes would wander about the different names of Pacific nations and cruise through all the mountains and different countries. I wondered: what are they like over there? How do they dress? How is their daily life? How do they look like? I would spend hours investigating on my computer encyclopedia-like time didn’t exist.
In a way, that wonderlust was materialized when I was thirteen, and I had to move to the United States. I was terrified. I didn’t know any English, and I just didn’t want to leave. It took so much out of me to build a comfy place for myself in that city, and now I had to switch subcontinents? What? Not on my wishlist for sure! But with a heart full of that kind of bravery that comes with not having an option, I embarked with my mom to Houston, Texas. Adapting to a completely different culture, language, learning system was a challenge, to say the least. When I think back at all the adjustments, I had to make, and all the things I had to learn and did learn, I am truly proud of my self. I did the thing, even though I was afraid, I did the thing, even though I didn’t know how. Eighth grade was a life teacher, but Ninth grade was a breeze of fresh air. I had friends; I felt accepted. I was doing really well at school. I even founded and was the president of my school’s international club. Life seemed to have something it barely had for me: Stability. And I was a version of myself, whom I really like to this day. But like any other breeze, it went by as well. Tenth grade come about, and I started to attend the main high school with all the other upper-classmates. Again, I didn’t fit in; I struggled a lot to find my place. And the remaining years of high school were a big rollercoaster with some really raw, happy moments and some scary ones in which saw my mental health being compromised. I met my first love and knew heartbreak for the first time. Then, by the end of senior year, I met my second love as well, and just in time to go to college! I decided to go to Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. I wanted to get as far away from home as possible. That’s what the majority of the kids in my high school wanted, and I resonated with the sentiment. I had a really nice time at MSU, but I wasn’t as productive as I could have been. After a year and a half, my mom decided to pull me out of that school and bring me home to The Woodlands. I had to, yet again, start over. I didn’t like my community college; after being in a university environment, it seems really cold and bland. But, now that I was here, I needed to make the most out of it. I joined the theater department and had the opportunity to perform in main plays. There, at this time, is when I finally decided that my voice was going to be heard. I finally let go of the burdens which had been placed upon me related to my accent and liberated myself. The worlds were going to hear my voice. At the age of 22, I was able to transfer to the University of Houston, and my life started to smile again. I studied broadcast journalism and graduated in 2017. My time at UH was absolutely wonderful, I met some really amazing friends, and I had the chance to develop myself as an individual. I hosted my radio show called Desde el Balcón de la Vecina and was field reporter and anchor for different TV shows at the school’s radio and television outlets. My voice was starting to be heard out loud more than ever. Once I graduated, I continued on the search to find myself, and I got into the path of modeling. My childhood dream was actually coming to fruition. Nowadays, I consider myself an artist and I’m constantly looking to grow and express myself in a more pure way.
Please tell us about your art.
I am a model. I use my physiognomy and physique to express ideas, bring to life feelings. I create a story in my head before I take any picture. I pull it from the round of imagination and bring it to this dimension with my body to create an image. I want people to feel when they see my art. I want to awaken them. I want to tell the history of humankind with every single photograph.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
Finding paid work as a model is extremely hard. I put a lot of dedication to refine my craft. I put a lot of love and energy towards my art, modeling. I am moving toward the direction of accepting more paid jobs than non-paid jobs because ultimately, I want my art to be my main source of income. Designers and project coordinator should prioritize monetary compensation for models. This way, we can all improve and direct the Houston fashion industry in a professional and dignified direction.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My Instagram account @desdeelbalcondelavecina and all the fashion shows that I partake in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gabrielaperaza92.wixsite.com/website
- Phone: 713-851-5842
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desdeelbalcondelavecina/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Radio-Station/Desde-el-Balcón-de-la-Vecina-443201325884326/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJcsQfkp_dM&t=30s
Image Credit:
Josh Atkins, Nicolai Mitchell, Wes Edmonson, Matthew Lamar, Gustavo Bernal, Mia Griffins, Gisselle Yeung
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