Rising Stars: Meet Candace Rogue of Southside Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace Rogue.

Hi Candace, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Like many millennial kids, I always knew I had artistic talent, but I wasn’t supported in taking it seriously. After doing life exactly the way the adults I respected told me to — literally up until my last corporate fashion job — I found myself miserable, with nothing that felt like my own to show for it.

I quit my job at Levi’s. I moved to Costa Rica. And while I learned how to farm sustainably through WWOOF, I also began taking my design and tech career more seriously. The joke was on me — it was still a cop-out, because what I really wanted was to pursue my art and fashion dreams.

So finally, after a decade of designing and developing for other brands and educating hundreds of students on how to be impactful designers, I’m reclaiming my time. There’s a lot of noise in the atmosphere — politically, economically, culturally — but somehow I found myself returning to where the fabric first began to tear: Costa Rica, painting every day.

I’m finally standing on business when it comes to building my world around being an artist. I have no idea where this train is stopping or where it’s ending up — but I’m sure glad I got on.

Can you believe this is the short version?

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has absolutely not been a smooth road. I’ve always wanted to create a creative wonderland — a space to share with my creative friends and work alongside them — and that vision led me down an unexpected path into real estate. In 2020, I bought a house on half an acre with the intention of building a second structure as a creative space. Two weeks later, I was laid off.

When I finally moved forward with building that space, after months of searching, the general contractor I selected attempted to steal $20k from me when the project was 75% complete. I was forced into becoming a project manager just to finish it — vetting, hiring, and overseeing subcontractors while still working my full-time job.

Later, I was offered a contract position in Bahrain with the same company I had previously been teaching UX design for, but I declined in order to keep my benefits. Two months later, I was laid off from that job as well.

There have been so many potholes in the road that I finally decided I might as well pursue my dreams — so at least the bumps are worth it.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist, creative strategist, and builder of worlds — working at the intersection of art, design, culture, and systems. My background spans fine art, fashion, UX design, education, brand development, and community-centered creative programming. I specialize in turning ideas into ecosystems — not just projects — whether that’s through physical spaces, digital platforms, cultural experiences, or visual storytelling.

I’m known for bridging disciplines that are usually siloed: art and technology, strategy and intuition, structure and play, spirituality and systems. I don’t just create aesthetically — I create infrastructure for creativity to live, grow, and sustain itself. That shows up in my work as a designer, educator, cultural correspondent, studio founder, and creative director.

What I’m most proud of is not a single project — it’s the body of work I’ve built across industries while still protecting my integrity, curiosity, and imagination. From designing for major brands, to teaching and mentoring hundreds of students, to building creative spaces, to producing community-centered cultural experiences — I’ve created pathways for people to see themselves differently and to believe more is possible.

What sets me apart is that I don’t operate from scarcity or imitation — I operate from vision. I’m not chasing trends; I’m building worlds. My work is rooted in depth, meaning, culture, and longevity, not just aesthetics or output. I don’t separate who I am from what I make — my art, my systems, my spaces, and my leadership are all extensions of the same core truth: creation as liberation, structure as support, and imagination as strategy.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Do y’all see the world on fire outside?

Go after what you want, and trust that God will align you with the right resources and collaborators to see it through.

Don’t quit — pivoting is different than quitting. See your passion all the way through.

If your gut is telling you to move away from a relationship (professional, romantic, or platonic) — MOVE. Don’t wait until you’re forced out. It hurts way more when removal makes the decision for you.

Find a support system and be good to them.

Go outside, touch grass and try to get that heart rate up every day. It’s a good way to relieve stress, clear your mind and meet new people.

Be okay with that support system changing. Some people aren’t meant to be in your life forever — they’re meant for a season.

Speak life into yourself every. single. day. Whether you grew up with affirmation or not doesn’t matter. It’s easy to spiral into negativity — so choose to pour into yourself. You’re depending on you.

Have a higher power to call on. It’s unrealistic to think you’re doing life alone and by your own hand.

Save some of your money. Outside is fun, but no one is responsible for your bills or your enjoyment but you. Budget wisely.

Pricing:

• To support my artwork, shop.candacerogue.com
• To receive mentorship in the UX Design & Development space, mentorship.candacerogue.com
• All inquiries for social media, UX work, art commissions and more reach out on social media @candacerogue on all platforms

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.candacerogue.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candacerogue
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CandaceRogue
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/candacerogue

Image Credits
@fitwithcj for last image.