Introducing Annabeth Mejia
Annabeth Mejia is an emerging photographer from Monroe, LA. She graduated as the outstanding graduate for the college of the arts at ULL in 2023 with a BFA in Visual Arts: Photography. Exploring topics not comfortably talked about in the American south is what she has focused on for the last few years. Opening conversations about how our environment affects us and how we see ourselves and others due to it. She wants to create beautiful and appealing images while also letting the viewers take the time to open their perspective.
https://annabethmejia.myportfolio.com/home
https://www.instagram.com/numbwhale/
Who makes up your art circle?
Just about all of my friends are artists in different fields. Writers, painters, dancers, animators, videographers, photographers, ceramists, just about every medium of art. There are also plenty of local photographers I’ve connected with.
How do you expand your art circle?
I’ve been able to meet a lot of really cool people through college. Learning institutes and events are a great way to meet like minded people. I recently met people through social media and just going out. Talking to people steadily extends your circle no matter where you find them. The bigger your circle gets the more people you can meet. Gallery openings, art walks, going to a bar, posting things online are just a few ways to extend this circle.
What value do you see in having a creative community?
It’s inspiring to see other people work especially when they work differently than you do. Their passions push my own. Having a lot of creative people around you causes a domino effect for everyone involved. If you see one person working hard it makes you want to do the same and vice versa. It also gives you so many perspectives to talk and learn about.
How does your artistic approach contribute to your community?
For me, creating is a way of life. I’ve been working hard not to stop now that I’m not in college. It can be really hard to get stuck in burn out or focusing on other priorities, but seeing others work on things big and small help push the desire to create. I think I’ve done well to help push others to not stop their artistic endeavors as well as my own.
Our weekly Art Circle series profiles artists throughout the community and is sponsored in part by Lafayette Visitor Enterprise Fund managed by Lafayette Travel
