Skin is the new canvas.

At only 25 years old, Claudia Sahuquillo has opened a new chapter in feminist art and is leading the female empowerment movement for Millenials and GenZers.

Her work is globally recognized with over 80,000 followers worldwide on Instagram. She’s fierce, she’s brave and she’s a true ‘dragoness’ that’s risen to international stardom and is just getting started!

Please meet my dear friend, Claudia, on today’s #DesignWithDot post!

1. You’re a leader in the female empowerment movement, painting on hundreds of boobs and nipples all over town! What inspired you to take a stand for women’s rights?

I have been a feminist for all my life. I have a twin brother, so I started to see the differences between male and female very soon in my life. They used to tell me don’t sit like that, behave like a señorita, girls don’t do that… while nobody told anything to my brother! That, combined with the fact that my family is lead by super strong, funny and crazy women… If you knew my grandma you would understand haha.

2. What exactly is an “ART EXPERIENCE” with Claudia Sahuquillo? And how can I get invited to attend?

An art experience is a celebration of humanness and an invitation to re-think it (and many things regarding it). I do them through my project #skinisthenewcanvas, and the main tecnique is paint on bodies. People use to call it bodypainting, and maybe they are right because of the medium, but this project is faaar away from just making bodies look beautiful: the power of art and the intimacy of our bodies as identities allow us to connect in a very profound way, first with ourselves, and then with our context.

I do art experiences in different formats: Campaigns (shootings or video), Networking for events, Team Buildings for companies and free sessions just for fun (and to think!)

3. At what age did you become an entrepreneur with your art? What initiated this transition from artist to entrepreneur?

I opened my e-commerce at 23, and that’s when I become an enterpreneur. The online shop where I sell my art started to grow organically very quickly. I understood that I had a good product and that I wanted to take it to the next level, and that was when I started studying business.

4. You’ve worked with so many amazing brands and projects and adult films! 😉 Can you share with us your favorite project so far in your career? and Why?

This is like when people ask me about my fav book or band, I just CAN’T choose one! I have been only being a professional artist for a year and a half, but it’s been intense!

My first professional art project ever was with Nike, I think about it with a lot of affection, and every time I meet Marta, the brand manager, we always talk about those days that changed my life. My experience filming with Erika Lust was very very exciting and we both loved working together. And of course, I LOVE working with Desigual, I have been working with them almost for a year now.

They support a lot the creatives and the artists, and it’s awesome when big corporations do that. I always get to do amazing projects with them, and we just did Sónar! What an unforgettable experience! What I love most of working with them is that they always let me do whatever I want! They are very supportive 🙂 You know, art can be a very lonely job, so I love working with its team, they are family. It’s so exciting to think about how many favorite future projects are coming!

5. What advice would you give to your younger self 10 years ago?

Keep drawing every day of your life, never stop questioning and learning… and embrace your weirdness, that will bring you so much joy!

6. What are your thoughts on social media? Hate it? Can’t live without it?

I love social media. Instagram allowed me to make art my livelihood at a very young age, and today it helps me to connect with thousands of people and to get a lot of inspiration every day!

I understand that it can be dangerous and that we are all addicted to our smartphones, but I think is a matter of set your own boundaries and limits, like in any other aspect of your life.

For instance, I plug my phone outside the bedroom at night, and after I stop my alarm in the morning, I allow myself from 10 to 30 minutes for myself, without looking at my phone. To be honest, I need to force myself not to look at the screen, but it’s worth it to start the day with yourself.

7. What is your philosophy about life? Or a mantra, quote or proverb you want to share with us?

— Think big and stay humble.

— Do it. And if you are afraid, do it with fear.

— We are alive to live.

Those 3 sentences were said to me by two of the most amazing people in my life. My friends and masters. They became my absolute mantras, and I just need to repeat them to me to remember to trust and balance my life.

8. What’s your dream travel destination or the next place you want to visit? #TravelWithDot

Take me anywhere with good food and I’ll be happy.

9. What’s your favorite food experience you would take me to in Valencia, and what would we eat? #EatWithDot

If you go to Valencia you DEFINITELY have to eat a goooood paella by the sea, you literally won’t find a better paella in any other place in the world.

10. Who has been a mentor or someone you have looked up to for advice and inspiration?

I agree with Tony Robbins when he says that self-education is an unlimited power for unstoppable people. I love learning about time management and chronotypes, sales strategies, leadership and habits with Mel Robbins, James Clear, Michael Hyatt, Twyla Tharp… I have a long excel list of business masters, and I always go there to find some inspiration, motivation and new knowledge.

Right now Rafel Mayol is taking me completely out of my comfort zone (which is making art) and helping me to grow my e-commerce. My best advisors and mentors are just my friends: Des, with a huge background working in sales in big companies, with her I am always learning how to be a better professional. Guillem, CMO of Desigual, he believes in me since the first day and he is helping me a lot to grow as a professional artist. And the one who was my favorite teacher from college and who became a very good friend of mine over the years, Rodrigo. I love calling him my old wise friend, because he is always giving me the best advices since I was in college. When I was still a post-teenager he told me once: you have to make art and be free. He couldn’t be more right!

11. Dragon or Unicorn? Why?

I’m definitely a black big dragon.

Well, I’m sagitarius, pure fire; and I have a very determined and strong character. But OMG I love when I meet a bad ass unicorn!