Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Zazueta.
Hi Laura, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in El Centro, California, and moved to San Diego to attend college. I’ve remained here ever since.
From a young age, I felt drawn to a creative life. I often felt different from my peers — not in a rebellious way, but in the sense that I was always imagining something beyond what was around me. As a child, I dreamed of becoming either a fashion designer or an interior designer, and I always carried a quiet desire to be an entrepreneur.
Growing up in a small, conservative town, pursuing a creative career wasn’t necessarily encouraged, so for many years I tucked those aspirations away. I majored in Sociology at San Diego State University and entered the corporate world after graduation, working in support roles that never quite felt aligned.
In my thirties, I decided to follow my instincts and enrolled at the Design Institute of San Diego, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design. It was a rigorous four-year program, and completing it was a pivotal moment for me.
Shortly after graduating, the Great Recession hit. At the same time, my marriage was ending. Several design firms I worked for closed or downsized. It was a period that required resilience. I returned to corporate roles to create stability, but I never abandoned the long-term vision of building my own creative practice.
Over the years, I intentionally studied the business side of design while working for some of San Diego’s top designers. I absorbed everything I could — knowing that one day I would need both creative and operational strength.
During the pandemic, something shifted. I began painting — not by replicating existing imagery, but by drawing directly from imagination. That process reawakened a part of me that had been waiting patiently. Painting became an excavation of sorts, allowing ideas and forms to emerge intuitively.
Today, I continue to refine my fine art practice while growing LZ Art + Design as a full-time creative studio. What once felt like scattered chapters now feels integrated — design, art, perseverance, and imagination working together.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road.
When you follow your creative spirit and entrepreneurship, there are elements you sacrifice along the way.
You are faced to navigate on your own certain parts that are typically offered while working for a company.
Such as financial predictability.
Entrepreneurship requires discipline and perseverance along with exceptional time management skills.
There is also the level of stress you face and learn to manage.
There are also the growing pains you go through to learn your target market through trial and eventually niche down.
Additionally, entrepreneurship can feel a little lonely as far as day-to-day challenges.
It takes time to learn how to compartmentalize and manage your time well including navigating your mental energy.
We’ve been impressed with LZ Art + Design , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
LZ Art + Design is a hybrid creative studio working at the intersection of expressive fine art and spatial curation.
In the studio, I develops figurative and symbolic works through an excavation process — applying and then removing paint to reveal emergent forms on canvas.
This subtractive method produces layered, atmospheric compositions rooted in psychological depth.
In design practice, the studio curates calm, intentional environments for boutique wellness spaces and residences.
We are passionate about incorporating our hand crafted replica foliage arrangements which adds richness to an environment while adding a holistic and restrained aesthetic.
Through disciplined planning, refined composition, replica botanicals, and integrated fine art, each space is shaped to evoke harmony, restraint, and quiet presence.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
My favorite podcast that offers invaluable insight not only in business but also for your personal life,
Mark Manson, American blogger that oddly enough started off as a dating coach.
In addition to being a blogger, is also an American author with his number one New York times best seller, “THE SUBTLE ART OF NOT GIVING A F**CK”.
You can find him on YouTube.
Additionally, Gary Vaynerchuk, American businessman and author for his passionate insight and raw unfiltered guidance for entrepreneurs.
One of my favorite entrepreneurs whose background story inspires me tremendously, Sophia Amoruso author of “#GIRLBOSS”.
In addition to her story, her creativity and fearlessness inspires me a great deal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lzartanddesign.com
- Instagram: Laurazartanddesign and lzstudiolab
