Ep. 16 | Nuyorican Roots: Art, Identity & Creative Flow With Erica Morales

Summary

In this episode of Decoding the Flow, Drica Lobo sits down with visual artist Erica Morales to explore Nuyorican identity — a cultural bridge between New York and Puerto Rican roots — and how it shapes creative flow, visibility, and artistic voice.owth.

Erica shares her journey as a Nuyorican artist—rooted in both New York and Puerto Rican culture—and how her identity shapes her artistic voice and creative process. She reflects on how art became a therapeutic outlet during challenging seasons, the importance of flow states in creation, and why discipline and self-love are essential foundations for a sustainable art practice.

Together, they explore the realities of the art market, the role of visibility and exposure, and how rejection is not a reflection of an artist’s worth. Erica also offers honest advice for emerging artists navigating confidence, community, and career-building.

This episode is a powerful reminder that art is not just an object—but a living connection between the artist and the collector.

 

Key Takeaways

• Erica’s Nuyorican identity deeply informs her artistic perspective

• Art became a therapeutic and grounding force during personal challenges

• The creative process is a dance between intuition and reaction

• Visibility plays a crucial role in the art market

• Discipline is essential for sustaining a creative practice

• Self-love builds confidence and artistic integrity

• Art can amplify and honor marginalized stories

• Community, networking, and exposure matter for emerging artists

• Rejection is not a measure of artistic worth

• Art creates a living connection between artist and collector

Sound Bites / Quotes

• “This is my love.”

• “You have to do it for you.”

• “You’re selling a state of mind.”

Episode Chapters 

00:00 Introduction to Nuyorican Identity
04:47 The Artistic Journey Begins
09:45 Artistic Process and Flow States
14:44 Visibility and the Art Market
19:53 The Role of Discipline in Art
24:53 The Impact of Art on Personal Growth
29:32 Advice for Emerging Artists
34:25 Conclusion and Future Aspirations

About the Host — Drica Lobo

Drica Lobo is a Brazilian-born, California-based visual artist, author, and podcast host. She is the creator of Creative Consciousness as a way of life and the founder of Decoding the Flow — a platform and podcast dedicated to exploring how imagination shapes reality.

Through her paintings, writing, and conversations with artists and creative leaders, Drica invites people to live from creation, not reaction, and to reconnect with their intuitive, expressive nature. Her work bridges art, nature, emotion, and consciousness, inspiring others to awaken their creative power and build lives rooted in intention, flow, and authenticity.

Website: dricalobo.com
Instagram: @dricaloboart

Get her book Decoding The Flow

 

About the Guest — Erica Morales

Erica Morales is a Nuyorican visual artist whose work explores identity, culture, and emotional presence through bold expression and intuitive process. Rooted in both New York and Puerto Rican heritage, her artistic voice reflects lived experience, self-reflection, and the stories of communities often underrepresented in contemporary art.

Erica’s creative practice is guided by flow, discipline, and deep self-connection. Her work has been exhibited internationally and across the United States, including SCOPE Miami and The Other Art Fair Brooklyn, and continues to resonate with collectors through its emotional honesty and sense of movement.

For Erica, art is more than an object — it is a living exchange between artist and viewer, a shared state of mind.

Website: ericamorales.com
Instagram: @ericamorales.studios