Meet Teresa Vallejos | Artist/eCommerce Corporate Executive

We had the good fortune of connecting with Teresa Vallejos and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Teresa, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I didn’t originally pursue an artistic career in the traditional sense. In many ways, art is something I’ve come back to.

As a teenager, I wanted to study textile art, but my mother, who was a widowed immigrant from Mexico, strongly encouraged me to choose a more stable path. I understood her perspective and followed her advice, studying business and eventually building a career in finance and corporate strategy. Over time, I worked my way into roles that I was very proud of, including working in the Office of the CEO at TelevisaUnivision.

Reaching that point in my career felt meaningful because I knew it made my mother proud. But it also made me reflect on a question that had quietly stayed with me for years: what might have been possible if I had invested the same energy and passion into art?

That curiosity brought me back to painting.

Over the past couple of years, creating has become a daily practice for me. Most nights, after putting my son to bed, I spend time in the studio painting. What started as exploration quickly became something much deeper—a form of expression and reflection that I realized had always been part of who I am.

Pursuing art now feels less like choosing a new career and more like reconnecting with something essential. It’s a space where intuition, emotion, and creativity can exist without constraint. In many ways, becoming an artist feels like finally allowing myself to become fully who I was meant to be.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work is rooted in intuition, emotion, and the search for balance. I’m drawn to abstraction because it allows space for ambiguity and personal interpretation. Rather than beginning with a specific image or object in mind, I approach the canvas as a process of discovery. I work through layers, texture, and movement until the piece begins to reveal its own rhythm and structure. In many ways, the surface becomes almost sculptural—something that evolves gradually through experimentation and response.

What sets my work apart is the path that brought me to it. I’m both an artist and a corporate e-commerce executive, and those two worlds influence each other more than people might expect. My professional career has been built through discipline, strategy, and persistence, while my art practice is driven by intuition and emotional exploration. That combination creates a dynamic balance in my life and in my work.

When I was a teenager, I actually wanted to study textile art. But my mother, who was a widowed immigrant from Mexico, encouraged me to pursue a more stable path. I understood her perspective and chose to study business. I began my career in finance and eventually moved into corporate strategy, working in the Office of the CEO at TelevisaUnivision.

Reaching that point in my career meant a lot to me because I knew it made my mother proud. But it also sparked a question that stayed with me: what might have been possible if I had put that same passion and energy toward art?

Over the past two years, I’ve returned to painting more seriously. What started as curiosity quickly became something much deeper. Most nights, after putting my son to bed, I go into the studio and paint. That time has become a space for reflection, experimentation, and creative freedom. It’s where I reconnect with a part of myself that had been waiting patiently for years.

The journey hasn’t always been easy. Balancing a demanding career, family life, and a growing art practice requires discipline and resilience. But those challenges have also taught me some of the most important lessons: that it’s never too late to return to something you love, that growth often happens outside of your comfort zone, and that creative work requires both patience and courage.

What I’m most proud of is simply having the willingness to start. It would have been easy to continue on the path I already knew, but choosing to invest in my creative voice has been incredibly meaningful.

What I hope people understand about my work and my story is that creativity doesn’t follow a single timeline. Sometimes the things we are meant to pursue take years to resurface. Becoming an artist now feels less like changing direction and more like coming home to something that has always been part of who I am.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting, I’d want them to experience the full personality of San Diego—the coastline, the creative neighborhoods, and the incredible food scene.

We’d start by exploring the beaches, especially in San Diego’s North County. I’d take them to Encinitas for a relaxed beach morning—coffee near the ocean, a walk along the sand. Encinitas has that perfect California balance of laid-back beach culture and a fun artsy vibe. After the beach, we’d wander through the local shops and grab lunch somewhere casual with great fish tacos.

Another day would be dedicated to the creative side of the city in North Park and Barrio Logan which both have the most vibrant art and culture scenes in San Diego. We’d spend the afternoon walking around the neighborhood, checking out murals, small galleries, vintage shops, and design stores. North Park has a lot of personality and always feels inspiring.

I would also want them to experience Coronado- we would visit the Del and walk around the shops.

For food and drinks, I’d take them to Jaguar Paw in Barrio Logan when they have their live jazz show. Dinner one night would definitely be at Le Coq in La Jolla for a beautiful, modern dining experience. Another evening we’d head to Herb & Wood for incredible food and a great atmosphere. And of course, there would be a sunset cocktail at Coasterra so they could experience the San Diego skyline at the best time of day.

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 absolutely dedicate my shoutout to my husband. His support and encouragement have been incredibly important in my artistic journey.

Returning to art later in life takes a certain amount of courage, and having someone who truly believes in what you’re doing makes all the difference. My husband has been that person for me. He has supported the late nights in the studio, the creative experimentation, and the commitment it takes to build an artistic practice alongside a full career and family life.

More than anything, he reminds me that pursuing something you love is always worth the effort. His belief in me has given me the confidence to continue exploring my voice as an artist and to take this path seriously.

I’m deeply grateful to have a partner who encourages creativity, growth, and the idea that it’s never too late to become more fully yourself.

Website: https://www.teresavallejosart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teresa.vallejos.art/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-vallejos-egholm/

Image Credits
Vitali Rodriguez @mylove4pictures