Today we’d like to introduce you to Celeste Byers.
Celeste, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2009 I was going to school in Pasadena studying illustration at Art Center College of Design, my father, a small airplane pilot, asked me to paint a mural on his hanger. I had never painted one before but I did it over the span of a couple months and thought I would never paint a mural again because it was so hard and had taken me so long.
At that time, Medical marijuana dispensaries were getting popular and friends of mine were getting their medical marijuana cards. I decided to get one too and I somehow ended up showing the “doctor” my art, including the mural I had recently completed. He was planning on opening a few dispensaries and hired me to paint murals in all of them. I painted around five murals for him over the next few years.
In 2013 I got a job teaching art and design at AOD, an art university in Colombo, Sri Lanka. I had never been to the country so before signing the contract I bought a plane ticket and went there to check it out. When I got there, the head of the art department and the teacher whose job I was there to replace invited me to paint a mural with them. Then the teacher, Aaron Glasson, told me about PangeaSeed, an ocean conservation organization he was a part of.
They wanted to start a mural project called SeaWalls: Murals for Oceans to raise awareness about different ocean issues. We ended up painting The first SeaWalls mural and now the project has over 100 murals around the world by some of the world’s most talented street artists and muralists. I ended up declining the teaching job offer and started collaborating with Aaron, painting murals in many countries including Vietnam, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United States as well as doing illustration and art installations.
We stopped collaborating a little over a year ago and now I do illustration, design, and mural jobs on my own.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I have been very lucky in my life but there have been moments when I have broken down and wondered if I could really make it as an artist. While I was getting started, I did so much work for free and worked so hard and felt like I was getting nowhere. It’s a constant learning process but now I’ve learned to value my work, know what I’m worth, and if I could go back I would tell myself not to worry and keep working hard because everything is going to work out.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Celeste Byers – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am an artist specializing in illustration, painting, and large-scale murals. For murals I have experience working with a variety of clients from small local businesses like Often Wander at Noon in Ocean Beach and Little Dame in Normal Heights to American Express and Warner Brothers. I like to work for clients whose projects I believe in and love learning from my collaborations. My work is uplifting, magical, and completely unique.
I’m proud of how I continue to improve and get better at what I’m doing and I am proud to be a successful woman working in the male-dominated field of street art and muralism. For my local mural work I was recently awarded the U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, the California State Senate Certificate of Recognition, City of San Diego Certificate of Recognition, and Ocean Beach Town Council Award for Community Renewal.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I plan to continue to travel doing mural work because I like to get to know new places, communities, and cultures. I want to continue giving back and working in San Diego, where I’m from. I look forward to making more work that I’m proud of and continuing to get better at painting. I’d like to do more studio work and make large paintings to show in galleries and later, museums.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.celestebyers.com
- Email: celestebyers@gmail.com
- Instagram: @celestialterrestrial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/celestebyersart
Image Credit:
Celeste Byers
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