blog 013: nyc & chicago art shows
my north america art debut.. perhaps coming to a city near you! 
my art at the blk room in chicago
i have to stop making such long-winded blog posts. it’s fine to just give a little update every now and then.
i’ve had art shows in NYC, chicago, and NYC again in the past few months. i’m so exhausted all the time. 
i’m trying not to fall behind on my shop orders, because my shop helps me afford to do the shows. i can never thank you all enough for supporting me.
i’m also in the process of putting out some more jungle CD sets. it makes me happy to introduce people to new artists. it’s expensive for me (materials, paying all the contributors) but it’s by far the most fulfilling thing i do. i’m working on getting some of them stocked in places IRL. if you have any cool zines/artist goods shop near you, let me know!!
also, If you make jungle music, i’m in the market for some original tracks for the long-awaited anne hero jungle compilation 2. i’ve already got some great stuff in store for it. this is a paid opportunity (flat rate, minimum $100, but no royalties because I’m wholesaling it out to some other cities and it’ll be too complicated for me) and the track doesn’t have to be brand new. and you keep all the rights to monetize it on your own. i personally think it’s a great opportunity for anyone who doesn’t have the time or infrastructure to manufacture and market CDs themselves. or if you only put out one song a year. or if you want more ears on your work.
okay enough business talk. back to the art shows..
a recurring theme from my art shows has been people treating me like i’ve “made it.” i don’t really feel like i have yet, but i’m grateful and happy and i have attainable goals. if i seem “put together,” just know that i don’t feel like it.. i also want to extend myself to people who want to collaborate with me on things.. i don't want to be unapproachable.. you can email me stuff like this; i don't have enough hours in the day to steal your ideas so pitch away!! 
these art shows has forced me to tighten up— connecting with new people and places, problem solving on the fly. (the exhibition mode dazegirl has been temperamental lately. she needs nice flat surfaces only… there’s a picture of her sideways below. not pictured is the 3 person scramble to save her from the floor.) and most of all: writing artist statements. this whole ordeal has taught me more about myself. It’s been bringing up disorders i’ve been ignoring. It’s been bringing up shit that happened in 2007. every line i draw is steeped in something tangible. if you engage in any sort of expression i implore you to write about it. even if you don’t share it with anyone.
even though i just do illustration, it’s serious because i’m serious. you can achieve this level of “seriousness” without school or your parents' approval or followers on social media. it’s just a matter of how you frame it all. i think it’s a lot easier to believe in your peers than it is to believe in yourself. i’m always telling people how much they mean to me, and how they inspire me, and what i think they do well. if i’ve ever inspired you to work harder or take a chance on your ideas, then my job is done. even if you can’t stand me. 
when you’re always in motion, it’s hard to look back and see how far you’ve come. So here is my reminder for you all: you are (probably) the cool adult you needed when you were a kid.
some photos—
click the blue
new york city
photos below by geom and fyzz, drawing above by margo
chicago
photos by mic lluvia ig@burroaburrido
an aside—
my shop prices won’t be impacted by the tariffs (at least for now) since i source my materials from people rather than companies. i pretty much won't stock anything with inflated prices. no matter what, i want my customers to feel like they found a good deal.
the verbatim digital vinyl CDs i print on? i get them from peoples’ grandparents on eBay and the plastic jewelcases i sell them in are from 1997. the knickknacks i sell in my shop? i buy them from the original owners who are clearing out their closets and retired stationery shop owners who are selling off their dead stock. my mailers all come from people who have partially used sets (maybe they just needed one mailer, but they are sold in packs of 10) and my bubble wrap is all reused.
i’m a second-generation amazon protester (there is absolutely nothing i need, brand new, in 2 days. i plan carefully so i can shop slow!) my business model is almost entirely secondhand (i buy CDs as modern as possible after some mishaps a few years ago) 
. because i don’t see the point in needlessly generating waste to do what i do. it’s also relatively inexpensive compared to buying everything brand new; it just takes more time to find listings that fulfill my needs. however, i want to make sure people don’t confuse my business model’s supply chain with some sort of sinophobia— there does not exist a modern business model that excludes china; they are stalwarts of fabrication. almost all of my inventory and materials were manufactured somewhere in Asia in the last 30 years. i just try to buy secondhand as often as i can to reduce waste.
i have been working on getting vinyl figurines manufactured. (i haven’t formally announced this yet so… surprise!) all of my stockists are in japan so far (i’ll be snooping around hong kong at some point) and i asked a friend to look for a spot in london— maybe vancouver will have room for me?— and i suppose the USA sales will go through my own shop. there’s a manufacturer in shenzhen who blew me away by their vinyl figurine quality so i’ll be checking that out in person next year. i never wanted to manufacture goods until i was in a position to do so in a responsible and personal way.
please look forward to it!
-AH
1 may 2025