<p>In this episode, Rocky sits down with artist and museum professional Lucia Simek for a reflective conversation about creativity, identity, and the courage to choose oneself. Together they unpack the tension of leaving a high-profile career to reclaim an &quot;origin story,&quot; the difficulty of being a &quot;hyphenate&quot; person in a culture that demands linear identities, and the transformative power of vulnerability. Lucia shares how her history of caretaking shaped her leadership, why she is walking away from the &quot;nonprofit machine&quot; to prioritize her essential self, and her vision for creating a hybrid space that truly represents her multifaceted creative heart. This episode challenges listeners to rethink success, embrace uncertainty as an instructor, and recognize the value of staying true to one&#39;s core morality.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Episode Highlights with Timestamps:</strong></p><p><strong>00:00:43</strong> — Why choosing a &quot;crazy but healthy&quot; exit from a major museum role was necessary for self-preservation.</p><p><strong>00:01:10</strong> — The challenge of being a &quot;hyphenate&quot; person with multiple identities in a culture that prefers clear career paths.</p><p><strong>00:01:52</strong> — Reclaiming an &quot;origin story&quot; as an artist and prioritizing essential happiness over financial security.</p><p><strong>00:02:39</strong> — Defining &quot;non-negotiables&quot; and shifting focus from fundraising to building genuine community.</p><p><strong>00:07:38</strong> — Embracing a &quot;revolutionary heart&quot; and the desire to create spaces that benefit the next person.</p><p><strong>00:10:38</strong> — The vision for a hybrid physical space for art and film that reflects a multifaceted identity.</p><p><strong>00:13:34</strong> — How deep moral care for a community can be both a leadership strength and an art world barrier.</p><p><strong>00:20:45</strong> — Reflections on a life of caretaking, from raising seven siblings to bringing those instincts into the workplace.</p><p><strong>00:30:42</strong> — The speaker challenges Lucia on the fear of asking for help when you are used to being the problem solver.</p><p><strong>00:45:20</strong> — Why pain and trauma are the &quot;best teachers&quot; and instructors for future choices and personal growth.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Get to Know Our Guest</strong></p><p>Lucia Simek is an artist, writer, curator, and museum professional with an MFA in sculpture from Texas Christian University. She spent eight years at the Nasher Sculpture Center leading communications and international programs. In 2022, she joined Dallas Contemporary as Director of External Affairs and was later promoted to Deputy Director, overseeing public programs, publications, and education. She launched initiatives like DC Empty and the NTX Graduate Student Program to support regional artists. After serving as interim director, she was named Executive Director in February 2025. She stepped down in December 2025 to focus on her independent art, curatorial work, and writing, including her upcoming book <em>Occiput</em> through Deep Vellum Publishing.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Learn more about Lucia&#39;s work</strong></p><p><strong>Lucia as a museum curator:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.keranews.org/arts-culture/2025-01-30/best-in-class-dallas-contemporary-exhibit-aims-to-boost-graduate-students-careers"><u>Best in Class: Dallas Contemporary exhibit</u></a></p><p><a href="https://heni.com/news?artist=Lucia%20Simek"><u>Heni News: Lucia Simek</u></a></p><p><a href="https://glasstire.com/2025/12/20/lucia-simek-to-step-down-as-executive-director-of-dallas-contemporary/"><u>Glasstire: Lucia Simek to step down</u></a></p><p><a href="https://patronmagazine.com/blind-alley-projects-present-doomscrolling-by-cheryl-donegan/"><u>Patron Magazine: Doomscrolling by Cheryl Donegan</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Lucia as an artist:</strong></p><p><a href="https://glasstire.com/2015/10/02/occiput-lucia-simek-at-the-reading-room/"><u>Glasstire: Occiput at The Reading Room</u></a></p><p><a href="https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts-culture/from-her-eyes-to-yours-lucia-simek-on-her-solo-exhibition-occiput-7546884/"><u>Dallas Observer: From her eyes to yours</u></a></p><p><a href="https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/visual-arts/2017/09/13/artists-tackle-issues-of-motherhood-identity-and-purpose-in-cleaver/"><u>Dallas News: Artists tackle issues of identity in Cleaver</u></a></p><p><br></p><p>Join Rocky, LIVE on Zoom, in conversation about leadership, humanity, and everything in between:<a href="http://rockygarza.com/confidence"> <u>http://rockygarza.com/confidence</u></a><br></p>