Evan Snow: And welcome to another episode of the Choose 954 podcast, episode 90, with Sergio Gomez ahead of his upcoming Creative Zen talk. If you didn't know about Choose 954, myself, Evan Snow, and my business partner, Mr. Andrew Martino, as arts advocates, community builders, and placemakers, started an initiative to cultivate culture and community in my native Broward County, which we are very proud to be born and raised from. In an effort to keep people in the know with all the great things that are going on, we aim to make this a better place to live and not just a better place to vacation because we live here. The point of the podcast is to connect you with interesting people like Sergio, who do amazing things, and you're going to find out quite a bit here. So without much further ado, for those that are not familiar with you, why don't you tell them a little bit about yourself and who Sergio Gomez is?
Sergio Gomez: Of course. Well, first of all, thank you, Evan, for coming. I'm super happy to have you here. I'm very excited. I’m originally from Mexico. I was born in Mexico and grew up there until I was 16. I came to Chicago, and that’s where I started my career, which we'll talk about more later. I ended up in Florida, and that's how we met. I'm an artist, first and foremost. That's my first title; since I was a kid, I always loved to make art. I was always interested in what happens on the other side of the desk when your art leaves the studio. So then I became a gallery owner as well, a curator, and working with artists, I realized the need for understanding all the things about marketing your art, how to get it out to collectors, and things of that nature. So I also became an artist coach, helping artists find their voice and how to get that voice into the world. And what else am I? I think that’s about it. I wear a couple of hats—father, human being, overall nice guy, husband.
Evan Snow: Husband too, yeah, exactly.
Sergio Gomez: We have two kids. My wife, Dr. Ana Gomez, is a psychologist, and we have also collaborated in many ways working with artists. We have two kids who are studying at FAU. They both love art, but they don’t have an art career lined up, though they do art on the side and love it. They’ve been part of our art life since they were born.
Evan Snow: I can only imagine. Maybe they'll find it later in life, but how did you initially get started in the arts yourself?
Sergio Gomez: The story begins in Mexico. I grew up in Mexico City, which is a big city with 20 million people going places everywhere. But when I was growing up, I never met a living artist, so I didn’t actually know you could be an artist. When someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always said I wanted to be an architect because I thought that was the closest thing to art. But in 1988, when we moved to Chicago, I went to high school as a junior. I didn’t speak English, so my only escape was art class. I joined the art club and also the yearbook club, where I did all the pictures and the cover for the yearbook. My high school teacher noticed that I really had an inclination and perhaps a talent for art, and he was the first person who planted that seed in me. He asked if I had ever thought about pursuing an art career, and I said not really because I didn’t know how. He suggested I go to community college and introduced me to the professors there, and that’s how the whole journey started.
The funny story is that I didn’t know anything about universities or colleges in the United States. I thought that in community college, you were supposed to take all the classes they offered. I didn’t know there were certain credits, so instead of spending two years, I spent three because I took every art class they had. But eventually, my professor said, “I think you need to move on.” So then I transferred and went to other universities, and that started the whole journey.
Evan Snow: And then from that period, and mind you, for those not familiar, the universities in Chicago for art are some of the best in the country, even the world. From that period, how did you transition with your personal art career as a professional artist?
Sergio Gomez: I always loved two things—well, three, but I dropped architecture because I was bad at math. So I focused on painting, drawing, and graphic design. I’ve always loved marketing, design, and advertising. I went through my university period and started entering exhibitions to see what was out there for an artist. To my surprise, I started getting into a lot of shows while I was still in college. From there, I went to do my Master of Arts, took a little break, got married, and then went back to school a year later to do my Master of Fine Arts (MFA). After finishing the MFA, the big question was, “What am I going to do with this?” My wife and I talked, and by then, I really had the idea that I wanted to open a gallery. I was so intrigued by what happens when art leaves the studio and how it moves. I never saw myself as the typical artist working every day in the studio. I’ve always been curious about many things and like to do different things. That’s where my interest in gallery life and curatorial life started.
There were some obstacles. First, when I finished my MFA, I didn’t have money to open my own art gallery. I didn’t have any business savviness—I never studied business or entrepreneurship. Back then, entrepreneurship wasn’t what it is today; there weren’t as many YouTubers talking about it. I didn’t have a network of people; nobody knew me in Chicago. I was just a student studying art. But I thought, “The only thing I have is friends.” So I called three friends and asked if they wanted to open a gallery with me, and they said, “Yeah, let’s do it!” The idea was to find a space where we could use half of it as a studio and the other half as a gallery to show art. My friends agreed, and we started meeting and looking for a space. We found one at the Zhou B Art Center, and during my upcoming talk at Creative Zen, I’m going to share the whole story of what happened after that. But that was the initial idea and what started my journey—calling my friends and deciding to create our own opportunity instead of waiting for one to come.
Evan Snow: That’s beautiful. You’re right—many people wait and hope for something magical to drop from the sky, but those who take control of their own destiny often reap the most rewards. I give you a lot of kudos and credit for doing that. You’ve had quite a bit of success, for those who aren’t familiar, but at what point did you know that you were now a professional artist?
Sergio Gomez: That’s an interesting question because I don’t think I ever sat down and thought, “Okay, now I know.” To me, it’s always been like a ball that keeps rolling. I think if the ball stopped rolling, maybe I would sit down and think, but I always see the world in motion. I never had that “Aha!” moment where I thought, “Oh, I guess I’m an artist.” Because the moment I’m doing something, I’m always thinking about what I’m going to do next. That’s just how my brain works, and that’s how I like to work too. I guess along the way, I realized it was working, so I decided to keep riding the wave.
Evan Snow: Amen, and you rode that wave down here to Florida. We’re very fortunate to have you choose 954 here in Broward. We’re just previewing your story because you’ll be our next speaker at Creative Zen, which we host the second Friday morning of every month inside the Cotilla Gallery at the Alvin Sherman Library on the NSU campus. Doors open at 8:30, with complimentary breakfast bites, coffee, and networking. The talk starts at 9, and we’re out of there by 10. You’ve had some incredible experiences working for one of the largest art centers I’ve ever heard about with two of the most accomplished brothers I’ve ever seen. Just flipping through the book of some of their work and accomplishments, you see there were presidents, including Obama, and so many others. What were some of the highlights from that experience, and could you summarize what that institution was and continues to be?
Sergio Gomez: These are the Zhou Brothers, who have a unique story in the art world. They were born in China and developed their careers there. They’re five years apart and both always wanted to be artists, particularly painters. Their careers started in China before China was open to the world like it is now. It was a very different world back in the 70s and 80s. They reached the pinnacle of what an artist could achieve in China, with an exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing. But they always looked outward and sought what was next for them.
When they set their sights on America, they arrived in Chicago with about $40 and 40 paintings, and that was it. Now, it seems weird in today’s world with the internet and social media, but back then, there were no phones, no social media, no internet. It was just you and whoever you could connect with. They were invited to Chicago by a local gallery, and they stayed. They started to gain traction and eventually became international successes, traveling around the world and having collectors in Europe, Asia, and the United States. They built an incredible career based on the idea of collaborating with another person and having this synergy, working as brothers. That’s why they’re called the Zhou Brothers. When they create a painting or drawing, they both work on it simultaneously. It’s very intuitive, but they don’t talk to each other about what to do. It’s not like one says, “How about you do this?” It’s more like, “Let’s just go and work.” It’s fascinating to me, and I’ve had the opportunity to work with them for about 20 years now. I’ve witnessed the height of their career and seen their success grow over time.
Two lessons I’ve learned from them that I still think about are perseverance and business savvy. Their perseverance is impressive. They dedicated their careers to one thing and stuck with it, even when their art wasn’t trending or in demand. They believed in their mission and vision for art and didn’t diverge from it, which I admire. Their business acumen is also noteworthy. They were careful about managing their brand as artists and achieved incredible things over time. That’s something I’ve also learned—the importance of your name being a brand in the world and the influence it has if you stick with it and work at it.
Evan Snow: Quite a brand indeed. What is the name of the center for those who might want to know more?
Sergio Gomez: It’s called the Zhou B Art Center in Chicago. They’re also opening a new center in Kansas City, which will have a big opening soon.
Evan Snow: That’s quite an impressive story and a noteworthy, established brand. Over 20 years, you’ve gained fascinating, high-level art experience, and you’ve also established quite a bit of personal and professional success within your own practice, curatorial directing, and beyond. When we connected, several people I mentioned your name to immediately recognized you, which was impressive. You’re well-known for Art Next Level. For those unfamiliar, could you tell us about the platform you and your wife run? Also, what was the motivation behind sharing this knowledge and helping other artists?
Sergio Gomez: I love that question because, as I mentioned, it’s like this ball that keeps rolling, and we just rolled into this as well. We had the gallery, 33 Contemporary Gallery, which started with my friends. Eventually, five years later, my wife and I took ownership, and it became our brand. We noticed that many artists needed business acumen and knowledge to manage their careers. We spent a lot of time having conversations and doing things in the gallery to bring artists together. But what really changed our mindset was when I was invited to speak to a group of artists in a suburb of Chicago, where there’s a large concentration of artists. I expected maybe 20 or 25 people, but when we arrived, there were about 100 artists. I gave a talk called “Taking Your Career to the Next Level,” and after that, there were so many questions and great feedback that my wife and I thought, “How can we repeat this and amplify the message?”
That’s when we decided to do something online. We realized that if we wanted to help more artists, we needed to be accessible outside of Chicago. That’s how Art Next Level started, first with a podcast, which then became a course, and eventually evolved into a full online coaching platform. Today, Art Next Level is an online coaching program where we look at the artist’s career holistically, focusing on business aspects, mindset, and overall well-being. Everything starts with your mindset. If you believe in the possibility of success, you’ll work towards it. But if you doubt yourself, you’ll experience more failures. Our goal is to help artists see their potential.
My wife, Dr. Ana, helps artists with mindset blocks and self-sabotage, while our friend Drew Harris, who has shown his work worldwide, focuses on studio practice and finding your vision as an artist. I handle the business aspects, including marketing, sales, organization, and productivity. I’ve always loved teaching, and I taught full-time at a university level for 13 years. But I realized that in academia, you’re limited to a set curriculum, and I wanted to teach what I wanted to teach. So we started our own thing, and it’s been fun. Thousands of artists have gone through our program, which is designed to be flexible and supportive. Artists can come and go as needed, depending on their career stage.
Evan Snow: It seems like artists have really gravitated towards your program. I was impressed by the number of artists who knew you and your wife and spoke highly of you both. Your backgrounds in education and mindset make you well-qualified to provide much-needed insight, feedback, and coaching. It’s great that you’re out there highlighting the importance of mindset and mindfulness. Many artists struggle with self-doubt and feeling stuck, but you provide them with the tools to overcome those challenges. Could you share more about the curriculum and programming you offer that helps artists reach the next level?
Sergio Gomez: As I mentioned earlier, mindset is the foundation of our program. Every challenge we tackle begins with a focus on mindset. If you don’t address your mindset, you can learn all the business strategies in the world, but they won’t work for you. Our first session always focuses on identifying mindset blocks and working through them. This approach is crucial for artists because they often face challenges that can hinder their success. We also incorporate mindfulness practices, such as meditation, to help artists start their day with a clear mind.
I’ve experienced my own mindset challenges, such as being a second-language speaker and worrying about mispronouncing words or not being understood. These thoughts can become excuses that hold you back. But I’ve learned to see my unique qualities as strengths, and we encourage artists to do the same. Our program emphasizes the importance of taking care of your mindset to succeed in your art career.
Evan Snow: Amen. I’ve become a mindfulness practitioner myself, and it’s had a profound impact on my life. Starting the day with meditation or other mindfulness practices can set you up for success. It’s great that you’re incorporating these practices into your coaching program. You also mentioned that you and your wife wrote a book. Could you tell us more about it?
Sergio Gomez: Yes, the book is called Crush Self-Sabotage and Live Fully: The Artist’s Wellness Journey to Confidence and Success. My wife, Dr. Ana, had already written a book for parents, and one day she approached me with the idea of writing a book for artists. I thought it would be easy, but she explained that it takes time and effort to write a book. The book is structured with eight chapters, each starting with Dr. Ana’s insights on mindset blocks and self-sabotage. After she wrote each chapter, she gave it to me, and I responded with practical advice for artists. I share my own experiences with self-sabotage and provide tips on how to overcome these challenges.
The third part of each chapter is an interactive section where readers can write down their thoughts and answers to specific questions. This helps artists identify their own mindset blocks and develop strategies to overcome them. The book is designed to be practical and useful, helping artists manage their inner critic and achieve success.
Evan Snow: That sounds like a powerful resource. Everyone struggles with self-doubt and inner dialogue, so it’s great that your book addresses these issues. The talk at Creative Zen isn’t just for artists and creatives; it’s open to everyone. The lessons and insights you share are applicable to any profession. We’re excited to have you as our next speaker, and we’ll link to your book in the comments. Where can people find more about you and your work?
Sergio Gomez: You can find me on social media and YouTube under Sergio Gomez Art. My website is SergioGomezArt.com, and you can also find my gallery, 33 Contemporary, online. I’m excited to be a speaker at Creative Zen, and my talk will be called “Closing the Gap.” We all have a gap between where we are now and where we want to be, and I’ll discuss how to close that gap and leverage fear to move forward.
Evan Snow: That’s going to be a great talk. We’re sitting in front of two of your works—could you give us a brief overview of your style and what we’re looking at?
Sergio Gomez: I’m a painter, and my work is figurative abstraction. It’s based on the human form but abstracted. I’m interested in the cycles of life, from birth to death, and the idea of presence and spirituality. My figures don’t have faces because I’m more interested in the energy and presence of the moment rather than how people look. I try to visualize that energy in my work.
Evan Snow: You do a great job with that. There’s an augmented reality component to your work that’s incredible. You’ll get to see some of that at the talk. Last question: Why did you choose the 954?
Sergio Gomez: We were coming from Chicago and didn’t know much about South Florida. We loved the vibe and the weather, and we wanted to be outside of the big city while still being close enough to enjoy it. We found that Broward County offered a great community with proximity to everything we needed. It’s been a wonderful experience, and we’re happy to call this place home.
Evan Snow: We’re happy to have you here. We encourage everyone to join us for Creative Zen, doors open at 8:30 on the second Friday of every month. Thank you for joining us today, Sergio, and for all the work you’re doing to support artists. We appreciate you tuning in, and we’ll catch you on the next one. Cheers!
Sergio Gomez: Goodbye!
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