Meet Joi Holmes | Artist/Curator

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

Hi Joi, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
I intend to uplift my community, particularly young creatives, through visual art. I created Artsey because I wanted to establish a shared space for people and families to gather, participate in classes, and parties that encourage their creativity; it’s my hope that my students will be inspired and will inevitably tap into their most creative selves, in order to create beautiful works of art, while also creating life-long memories with their friends and families. I believe art is therapeutic and the act of creating comes from a deep pure love space within us. This is my gift to our community and subsequently the world.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My journey has been quite the maze; I taught for 16 years in the public educational system in 4 different states. My teaching experience, though it was challenging for me at the time, it inspired my entrepreneurial journey. Through my professional teaching experience, I found my passion for creating and connecting young people to experiences that inspired them and allowed them to be their most creative selves. Throughout my professional career, I worked in emotionally challenging school settings; I taught students who were severely impacted by low socio-economic factors and lived in violent and unsafe communities. These experiences taught me the power of creative outlets and ultimately is what inspired me to open my art studio.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Dallas has so many amazing restaurants and fun places to hang. I enjoy all things artsy, delicious food, and wine. One of my favorite areas of the city is the Bishop Arts community. It’s vibrant and lively! There are a plethora of places to eat and unique shops to explore. I also enjoy the lower Greenville area and the Design District. I drink coffee, so I’m always in search of local coffee shops. Art shows and galleries are my jam too, so those are always on the list of things to do. The week would be full of art galleries, local shopping, coffee shop visits, and wine bar explorations.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shoutout, my tribe. I have such a strong group of supportive people that have helped me along my journey of entrepreneurship. There is not one person I can name at this point, but I’d like to say, I’m grateful for my tribe. My tribe consists of my family, friends, and business associates. I’ve been favored and blessed tremendously.

Website: www.artseyart.com

Instagram: artseyartstudio

Facebook: artseyartstudio