Let the Place Speak: On Art, Life After Academia, Building a Practice on Our Own Terms, and Starting Again with Cheryl Agulnick Hochberg
In this heartfelt and grounding conversation, Kat reconnects with her former professor, artist and printmaker Cheryl Agulnick Hochberg, to explore what it truly means to live a creative life—on your own terms. Cheryl shares how her work is shaped by place, walking, and deep observation—drawing inspiration from time spent in Wyoming, China, Finland, and her new home in Arizona. Together, they reflect on life after academia, the courage to start over, and the unexpected clarity that comes with experience, loss, and listening to the land. This episode is a balm for any artist feeling overwhelmed, out of place, or unsure of what comes next. It’s a reminder that your work doesn’t have to be impressive—it just has to be yours. In this episode, they discuss: Life after academia and what changed in higher education Making time for your art while raising a family or working full-time How Cheryl approaches residencies, place-based work, and listening Letting go of external pressure and creating from authenticity The real markers of a fulfilling creative life Advice for artists just beginning—or beginning again Cheryl Agulnick Hochberg Website: www.cherylagulnick.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherylhochberg ✨ Resources to Support Your Creative Path: Submit to Create! Magazine’s open call: createmagazine.co/call-for-art Explore free artist tools + micro-courses at Create U