Meet Anthony Flores | Visual Artist, Wellness Researcher & Mystic

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anthony Flores and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anthony, what’s your definition for success?
Success is only defined by the Individual. As everyone’s path is different, there is no one true way to obtain it. Moments of success will happen at random times throughout your life – so don’t get upset if things do not go your way in regards to a certain project/task. It simply means that it was not for you, or rather, it was meant as a lesson. Take the chance to change your perspective on certain things in order to keep moving forward. The definition of Success is subjective.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is very personal – it’s an intimate look into my own mind that I allow for the public to see. I consider this a sacred space, as I originally started off just collaborating with others. I started off helping others instead of myself, however, it was through this journey that I found myself. I realized my own unique path by the process that I like to call: Trials. Through this step, you can explore. As a photography student, I really did not know what I wanted to make of myself. I just knew that I had a need to express what I was seeing through my own eyes. I wanted so badly for others to see the beauty in the world around them. I started taking photos of bands and different artists; each with their own unique stories. I learned so much through their ambition and became inspired by what they were planning to do. Their own dreams helped uplift my own. I started off interning for gallery spaces in Austin and working on a student-run fashion magazine. When I came back to Houston due to lack of finding a job in the creative industry, I worked for a major museum as a photo editor and imaging technician. Basically, all of this experience taught me how to become an Artist. I guess I hadn’t really thought about the fact that the Universe was trying to give me that experience. The experience of learning all of the technical and administrative processes one must know about in regards to creating, managing, marketing, and displaying your art. I admit, that I am still in the learning process but the journey has been so enlightening and has contributed to my wide range of skills. I now know so much about art, technology, creative software, cultural history, and how to use these tools and concepts for preservation. I realized that it’s the journey and not the title that matters. Who are YOU? What do YOU want to be? I asked myself these questions to narrow down my list – to find out who I was. After this background of art and learning about technology, I started at a new job as a quality analyst (which became basically medical research about the body and mind). I felt so overworked and bored, I needed a creative outlet. So I went down a rabbit hole of tarot, magic, astrology, spirituality, and wellness. A bit crazy, but fitting for the time of the pandemic. I don’t necessarily know why I gravitated so heavily towards this…..but I know it was for a reason. After numerous readings and guidance that I have provided for others, I started to realize that I was truly helping people help change their lives. I was helping people get out of toxic cycles so that they may progress and move on. Whether it be in regards to love, finances, career, mental health – I helped everyone with every aspect of their current journey. Although I thought against it, I was encouraged by many to publicize the fact that I do tarot readings. A bit of “magic” for the mundane. So now, my next journey begins and another skill has been added to the skill set! Through the course of my career, I have realized that I love research and problem solving. I’m a Virgo, so I am very analytical. I used to not believe in all of this “astrology stuff”, until I realized it is simply using psychology to help you advance – to help one overcome and stay grounded. They are simply tools and nothing else. You can choose to believe it or not. They won’t predict the future, but they will help the present. Now, I am working on starting my own business combining tarot, wellness of the body and mind, and my own art. My web shop will go live on the day of the Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn (December 21, 2020) via www.subliminalmessages.online/ Besides this, I also have a love of music and club culture. I have missed dancing with others and seeing incredible people perform. I started a project with my friend Karla (DJ Lita) in NYC. Our project is called Basement Tapes (www.basementtapes.world/). She records different DJs and musicians and then Starr Sanford (another amazing artist based in NYC) and I provide a visual. This project has been a great way to help people cope during this time of quarantine, as well as a great way to introduce incredible talent and provide a nice mental escape. Through this project, I also discovered my love for video art. I am currently working on creating more visual hypnosis videos for my own YouTube channel. We have so much talent lined up! Although this is not a job for us, we still love doing it just because. Moral of the story, pay attention to things that you purely gravitate towards. You never know what you will uncover on your path. You can find my website at www.enjoyyour.world/

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First, I would drive them around the city. I would take them for a drive and blast music as we circle around downtown. Seeing the skyline of Houston can really make you feel small. If you look out from every angle, you can see how far the city extends. There is so much to explore – so much culture and endless possibilities. Then, I would take them to the Menil Collection. This museum is a sanctuary for me. I worked there as their Imaging Technician and learned so much about art and the culture of Houston. Houston is one of the most surreal places, if you look closely. So many things collide here – besides the weather. The experience of circling around downtown and then coming to this wonderful gallery filled with artwork from around the world will surely show the duality of it all. This is a place where things might seem hidden, but it should only encourage curiosity to see what is possible. We would then head to Moon Tower Inn in the East Side or drop by Green Seed Vegan for a bite and a drink! There are so many different food options here, we could spend all day eating and drinking. Afterwards, I would take them to Eleanor Tinsley Park for a sunset view of the city – circling back to where we were at the beginning, but now from a perspective from below.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The World around me. I am so grateful for all of my experiences and people that I have come into contact with on my life’s journey. The lessons that I have learned has transformed my perspective – only adding to the knowledge that I have and helping me build upon it. I am inspired by so many people including my family and friends. Everyone’s journey is unique and should be respected. But remember: It is my life and you are all just living in it – but it is also your life and everyone is just living in it. I give thanks to all because if it wasn’t for everyone (and the situations around me), I would not be who I am today.

Website: https://enjoyyour.world/
Instagram: @weekdaycommute
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/anthonytx/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC88Mo3xdoMPhRXWEK0ioSYQ
Other: https://basementtapes.world/ https://subliminalmessages.online/

Image Credits
All photographs, artwork, and digital work by Anthony Flores. NEWWORLDHEALING 2020. Basement Tapes NYC 2020.