When Opportunity Knocks… and It’s Not What You Expected

Sometimes opportunity shows up in ways that don’t look anything like what you imagined. Recently, I applied to a gallery in Seattle - a city that has always felt like the place where my heart first sparked awake. I’d been dreaming of bringing my work back there, rooting myself again in the creative energy that shaped me. When this gallery crossed my path, it felt like the stars had aligned. It seemed like the first real step toward reclaiming that part of my life.

But opportunity doesn’t always unfold the way you want it to.

During the interview, it became clear that the culture of the gallery wasn’t a good fit. The dynamic, the tone, the way 'critique' was delivered - it reflected the same kind of toxic “Fine Art” gatekeeping that pushed so many of us to the edges in the first place. That moment of recognition was immediate. And honestly? That’s okay.

Because the real opportunity wasn’t the gallery membership. It was everything that happened before it.

I met an artist whose work I admired, a person who inspired me to finally take a step I’d been circling for a long time. Applying, preparing my materials, imagining my future in Seattle again… that was the gift. That was the movement I needed. The interview simply revealed that this particular door wasn’t meant for me, and it affirmed something even more important: I’m not interested in going backward when my whole practice is built on exploration and evolution.

And here’s another truth: it is okay to say no. It is okay to recognize when a space is not aligned with your values. It is okay to look someone in the eye - kindly, calmly - and let them know that the way they are choosing to treat artists is disrespectful, harmful, or abusive.

We’ve spent too long being told to “go high” when others go low, especially in the art world, where cruelty often masquerades as critique. But there is strength in naming what is unacceptable. There is power in setting boundaries. And there is tremendous clarity in trusting yourself when something feels wrong.

The interview didn’t lead where I thought it would, but it accomplished something far better: it pushed me off the sidelines and into the water. And honestly? The water is fine.

Sometimes the experience is the purpose. Sometimes the step that doesn’t work out is the one that puts you on the right path. And sometimes, opportunity knocks not to invite you in, but to remind you what doors you’re no longer willing to walk through.

Here’s to the next step. And the one after that. And all the ones that keep pulling us forward.