For years, Amor Roldan wanted to put her art into the world — but a quiet, persistent voice told her not to.
“I had that voice in my head that was like, ‘I don’t think that’s good enough,’” Roldan said. “And it just took over. And I let it take over for so long.”
That self-doubt followed her even as she built a life rooted in creativity, education and community in Long Beach, the city where she was born and raised.
Roldan grew up on Pacific Avenue on the north side of the city, in an apartment building where neighbors leaned on one another.
“It was so community driven,” she said, adding that if someone needed something, they would share.
“We were just a small community, and it was so strong.”
Those early experiences left a deep impression. And throughout those times, she says art was always present.
“It started off with just doodles,” Roldan said. “I would draw with my dad a lot, and that meant a lot to me.”
Drawing became her first creative language, eventually evolving into digital collage.
“I love the idea of putting things together and taking apart images to make something even more beautiful than it started,” she said.
Still, it took years before Roldan felt ready to share her work publicly. She studied animation and imagined a creative career, but imposter syndrome lingered.
“It took so many years for me to actually put art out here and into the world,” she said. “I’d rather, you know, do it before I get to an age where I regret not doing it.”
That decision led her to community art spaces in Long Beach, including Kubo, where she recently held an exhibit. “It was very intimate,” Roldan said. The show explored deeply personal themes of body image, self-love and acceptance — topics she said are rarely spoken about openly. “I want to be able to speak for people that are not able to do that yet,” she said.
Today, Roldan balances her artistic practice with her role as a math and science teacher at Southeast Middle School in South Gate, where creativity is central to her classroom. “I always say that teaching is an art form,” she said. “It’s not going to be perfect every single time.” Her students regularly create zines, art-based projects and collaborative work rooted in problem-solving and expression.
Looking ahead, she hopes to continue growing her craft by staying connected to others and continuing to create — even when doubt creeps in.
“If no one’s gonna do it, I’ll do it,” she said. “The only person holding you back is yourself.”