Featured in Shoutout LA
We had the good fortune of connecting with Bobby Flowells and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Bobby, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
The single most important decision I made that contributed to my success would be moving to New York. It was about 2 years ago that I moved to the East Coast to pursue my career in Art , during that time my Art just started taking off in California with my collective the Tiny Art Gallery. And it felt like I had to start all over again, I was scared and clueless. Because uncertainty and the thought of not knowing what’s next was so terrifying. But I overcame that fear by taking that “Leap of Faith”, believing in myself, and also being encouraged by the love of my life, Maria!
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m currently residing in New Jersey at the moment. But when I’m usually out back home in LA. Places I would recommend to go, if you had one week to do things out here? To start you off would be with a great hike at Griffith park, where you get to enjoy nature, also a beautiful sight of Downtown LA, and a nice trail up the observatory where you can spot the Hollywood sign. After that gorgeous and challenging hike I suggest going to Dino’s Main ST on 2817 N. Main St. If you love mouth watering grilled chicken and flavorful fries, this is the place to be. You get a serving of 1/2 chicken and side of rice, beans and the right amount of fries. It’s the sauce for me. Places to visit the art district which is Little Tokyo. You can just literally walk a few blocks there and enjoy seeing street art by many muralists and creative artists. Barcade is also an excellent place to be during the night. If you are out with a few friends for the night in LA this is a must stop. Enjoy a few drinks from the bar and play some arcade games you grew up playing. Good luck trying to play Street fighter. Most of the time there’s a line to wait to play just to get beat by Ryu. The Broad and Getty Museum are amazing places to visit to get inspiration from art. LACMA as well.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to give a shout out to a few folks and we will start with my soul mate Maria Cruz Lee, if it wasn’t for her constant push and motivation she gives me on a daily basis. The love and support is never ending and I truly appreciate that I love you so much Mahal, thank you for always believing in me. Chef Miguel Trinidad for being a great mentor, thank you for the endless opportunities in working with you in the Food Industry, you’re more than a mentor you a the big brother I never had. Josh Salas, my bruv from Anaheim! Ayo, you have been on this journey with me since day one. Thank you for holding me down from the get go, You’re part of this when we get to the road of success! And to my collective The Tiny Art Gallery, Cliff, Majella, Sampson, Vic, and Courtney, you guys keep me inspired everyday and I truly appreciate the time I’ve spent with yall. You guys taught me the business side of Art and how to move accordingly. And also my mother Rebecca Javier (RIP). Mama Beck thank you for giving me life and sacrificing so much for your children. You always believed in me when others failed and I will always hold on to that, I will make you proud Mama and I will do this for you!!!