Name: Antoinette Cauley
Age: 28
Title: Fine Artist
Married/Single: Single (and kinda ready to mingle)
City you live in: Phoenix
A typical day in my life includes…
meetings/ consultations with clients, youth art workshops in Phoenix, some painting and usually a little gangsta rap and glitter in there somewhere!
I was born and raised…
Phoenix, AZ.
My favorite thing about Arizona…
is that there is so much beauty here! There are so many amazing places to explore whether it’s the Grand Canyon, snowy Flagstaff, the top of South Mountain or even Tempe Town Lake, there is no shortage of loveliness here.
I’m listening to…
Bruno Mars currently. I am pretty obsessed with his new album. It has this 90’s R&B vibe mixed with a little funk so it makes me feel like a kid again.
My family…
is incredible! My mother is so supportive and my father is super encouraging. They were so important along my journey of chasing my dreams, quitting my job and becoming a full-time artist.
If I could have dinner with anyone…
it would be Tupac Shakur because… it’s Tupac!
One thing I cannot live without…
is music! It is one of my favorite things in the entire world. It has the crazy power to change the way you feel or react to things. One song can change your entire mood. It is one of the most beautiful forms of art and it is such a huge part of my life!
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
a pop star. In the 4th grade I started a girl band named “4 Ever” of which I was the lead singer (of course). I abandoned that dream a long time ago but I still play piano and sing for fun on my down time.
I’m inspired…
by music. My art tends to be a literal interpretation of specific songs that I hear. I feel the music more than “hear” it. It moves me to the point of creation!
The one person who motivates me…
is my mom. She reminds me that I can do absolutely anything and that with the right amount of determination and belief in myself, that I will achieve every goal I set for myself.
If I could change anything in the world…
it would be the way people view one another. I wish that when people looked at one another they didn’t see race or gender but instead saw only love. It would change so much about how we treat each other, ourselves and our communities.
The perfect day would be…
laying on my yacht while Justin Timberlake (who happens to be my boyfriend) gives me a back massage and feeds me sushi!
My first job was…
being a Jr. Staff at the Boys & Girls Club. I was 14 years old and ready to make some summer cash! It was so funny because I think my checks were a little over $150 every two weeks but I felt rich!
My favorite escape…
is into the “Firefly” room in the Phoenix Art Museum. It is one of my favorite places on earth. When I walk into that space, it reminds me of how small I am and how the little things in life aren’t as important as love, family & my overall happiness.
My life is like…
a movie sometimes. If you watch it, you’ll laugh, cry, love, hate, feel joy & sorrow all throughout the story that is me. It has been an incredibly beautiful and challenging journey that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
I’m currently working on…
a series of workshops designed to help aspiring artists develop a brand and the tools needed to pursue a career in the arts. I am also working on expanding the youth art workshops I run throughout the valley.
Always…
spread love and express gratitude.
Never…
hold onto fear and resentment. It will keep you from living the life you dream of.
Favorite Quote…
“Reach for the stars so if you fall you land on a cloud.” -Kanye West
Biggest Dream…
is to be a world renowned artist who is showcasing work around the world.
My Pet Peeve(s)…
is when people blame others for their downfalls. The power is always in our hands and so I always encourage people to take control of their lives!
More about Antoinette…
From an early age, Antoinette found comfort and security in her set of pencils and sketch pad. She would spend hours a day at school, her local Boys & Girls Club and at home drawing. Throughout her teenage years, Antoinette was able to perfect her color pencil technique and advance in to college level art courses as a high school student. Art seemed to be the only thing that ever made sense to Antoinette. Her ability to create art was the only real sense of stability she found as a youth. She knew that she had been given a special gift to create and that one day she could use it to change lives. It was her lifeline, her way of escaping the everyday struggle she and her family had to face.
Being a Phoenix native, Antoinette’s work is very reflective of her city- the gritty and the beautiful. Her work is heavily influenced by rap music and hip hop culture with a focus on social injustice and politics. She combines the grittiness of inner city turmoil, war and tragedy with the beauty of music, vibrant color, texture, pattern and an emotionally driven message.
Currently Antoinette works as a full-time artist in her studio in Phoenix, Arizona. She also works with youth ages 5-18, teaching art classes that focus on drawing, painting and color theory.
