Meet Doriana Diaz, a Philly collage artist making her next move

The 20-something artist works in a variety of media, but collage is the one she loves.

“It’s this burst of complete and utter excitement. It’s this feeling where I’m like, ‘Oh, this is why I’m here,’” she said recently.

Collage is the art different companies pay her to make.

Collage is the art that pays the bills — though not all of them.

Diaz is one of 50,000 Philadelphians piecing together a living with a combination of different gigs.

Diaz dreams of a more stable living. She and her partner, Mars, are looking for space to open a café, which would also serve as an event space and storefront for Diaz’s art.

“I’m really excited to be young and really wanting to push myself and push out not only out of my comfort zone, but to really push myself to live the life that I want,” Diaz said.

Diaz and her partner are looking for a space that could have multiple stories with some type of division between spaces and a fully functioning kitchen.

They found one space that was 4,900 square feet, but it would have cost more than they could afford.

They found another space that seemed just right — a two-story building between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet that was in their price range. But by the time they inquired about it, it had already sold.

“So we’re in the midst,” she said. “Stay tuned. I hope that it comes sooner rather than later, but that’s where we’re at right now.”

These Thriving audio stories feature reporting by Nichole Currie and audio production by Rowhome Productions.