205. Self-Taught Painter Eduardo Gardea on Becoming a Full-Time Artist

Eduardo Gardea is a self-taught painter who works out of his
studio at Hot Shops Art Center in the North Downtown
neighborhood. He recently decided to quit his day job and pursue
art full-time. His work is influenced by stories of the
disenfranchised, often encouraging the viewer to think more
deeply about the immigrant experience. Gardea has also created a
number of murals around Omaha. One of his more recent works can
be found on the exterior of Ooh De Lally in Dundee. 


In this conversation, Gardea and Michael Griffin talk about
Gardea's artistic process, the administrative hurdles to being a
full-time artist, and steps Omaha can take to invest in the
creative community.