Hi, I’m Ari

Field notes for people building something of their own.

I’m a Creative Entrepreneur and artist working at the intersection of placemaking, design, and systems change. Sometimes I joke that I’m a pathological problem solver. My path has been anything but linear, but that’s exactly how I work: interdisciplinary, intuitive, and driven by impact. My journey’s included:

  • Starting a design studio leveraging place-based storytelling & building out spaces for independent businesses.

  • Opening a brick-and-mortar shop called Viscera, creating clothing, accessories, art. and 3D-printed jewelry. (Plus becoming a perfumer and creating a natural perfume line sold in shops across the country.)

  • Accidentally became a muralist (despite a fear of heights).

  • and most recently, began building a SaaS product to support small businesses, a venture recognized by the Black Ambition Prize.

While it might not be obvious at first glance, I have a BA in Architecture and a Master’s in City Planning (I promise, it all connects!) Over the years, I’ve collaborated with organizations like Google, Merc Housing, Salesforce, and the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, using art creativity as a tool for transformation. My work and I have been featured in 7x7,Thrillist, the San Francisco Chronicle, and I even landed on the cover of Oakland Magazine.

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Constellations

Newsletter

Featured
Three Lessons from Three Years of Bicoastal Living

It was June 2023, and I was about to drive across the country, two dogs in tow, leaving the Oakland apartment I'd lived in for 10 years and heading to New York City — without an apartment and knowing only a handful of people. I'd always loved New York and traveled there roughly twice a year for fashion tradeshows back when I was running my boutique. After surviving the Covid lockdown (and, unlike a lot of my friends, staying put), I felt like I was emerging a different person than I'd been in 2020 — and that deserved a life change. Realizing just how short life can be gave me the kick in the butt I needed to finally try living bicoastally. My people, my business, my network are all in Oakland — the Bay has been my home for all of my adult life — so I didn't want to leave it all behind. But I was ready for the next adventure.

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Betting on the Underdog: What the NYC Summit Taught Me About Optimism

Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of attending the NYC Summit and seeing our Mayor Zohran Mamdani (and when I say "our," I mean all of the US) speak in person. The room was full of other business owners, folks from the City of New York, and people from embassies and trade commissions across the world.

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2025 Booklist Wrapped

Inspired by Spotify's annual "Wrapped" here's my favorite reads of 2025. A few a these are on repeat (Yes, Ross Gay is my favorite poet) and you'll see my reading taste is about as eclectic as my interests are. 2025 was a tough year and so you'll notice some themes of coping, rage, resisting capitalism, and just trying to make sense of the chaotic times.

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Design Studio

Speaking

Murals & Art

My Creative Universe

Shop & perfumes

Opportuned

Podcast

Instagram

Writing

Get into
my orbit.

If you’re into bold ideas, cross-disciplinary magic, and building things that don’t fit neatly into a box (or galaxy), we’ll probably get along. Send a signal and we can collaborate on projects and launch some new things into our world.