Today we’d like to introduce you to Fabian Alejandro Diaz.
Hi Fabian Alejandro, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Moved to san antonio from west tx in 2008. Was taking classes at the southwest school of art and had random jobs. At the age of 27 I decided to go to cosmetology school. But I told myself I wasn’t going to just work in some mom and pop shop doing color retouch. I wanted to do hair, but I wanted to do it creatively. I got involved in the local fashion scene, doing hair and makeup for photo shoots and runway shows. Which then lead to me wanting to create pieces for these shoots I was doing. So I started making random accessories. And from there it lead to me getting into mask making and headpieces. About 5 yrs into doing hair I was doing a haircut on Zachry Smith. And from what I remember, he started talking about what he does, what he was going to start doing and we decided to start collaborating. Honestly working with him lead to so many other opportunities. He is the one that brought me into the production world of film and tv, and I have been working with him ever since. I also started collaborating with a group called Essentials, they started in san antonio and are now in austin. With them it was high fashion, super artistic and creative. Which got me more into the gallery and art scene. I now freelance, doing hair, makeup, and wardrobe mainly for film and tv. Random weddings with Zachry, part time bar job, with random hair gigs in between. I do house calls for color and cuts. Creating costume pieces for friends who are performance artist, dancers, musicians. My life is so random and sometimes chaotic. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love what I do, and i love creating art. All that while trying to be an “adult”, trying to stay healthy and have a balance between work and being social. Spending time with family, friends, my animals.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I feel like i have experimented and made mistakes and learned what works for me. I think one of the only struggles would be consistency. As a freelancer, jobs don’t always come back to back. As far as everything is am doing, i have always felt it is what I need to be doing. But you have to learn your worth and figure out who can appreciate what it is that you do. My parents have played a big part in that. They have always been supportive of my random ventures, and have gone to most of my shows, even though they live 6 hrs away, back in west tx. And I feel like that makes things so much easier to be yourself.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have painted, drawn and made things since I was a little kid. I loved class projects and anything crafty. Which lead to me being a multi media artist. I do paintings and collage work, with kind of a folk art vibe, painting on canvas, wood, metal, furniture. I love Dia De Los Muertos, the traditions, culture, the colors. Last year on Nov. 2nd I did a runway show Inspired by Dia. I created 12 looks and also did a brand new look for myself, headpiece and all. I have done about 5 runway shows throughout the years, creating all the looks for the models and then doing a look for myself. Walking in my own show is kind of my thing. Somewhere along the way, i became a mask maker. Mixed media, found objects type stuff always with a theme. One of my proudest moments this far would probably have to be winning Fashion Artist of the year at the San Antonio fashion awards. I was nominated 5 years in a row, winning once. My parents and brother and sister-in-law were able to come the year that I won! And my looks for the shows were pretty cool. A mix of edgy, high fashion, and avant-garde. I think what sets me apart is i pull from so many different areas of inspiration, but still keep with my aesthetic. I tend to always have a mix of the masculine and feminine and a darker color palette.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Being able to do what you love and feel passionate about, while earning the respect of others.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @fridasson44
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/167n2egch2/
