Meet Tate - Artist, Prop Stylist, and Tchotchke Lover
The past year has turned all our lives upsidedown and backwards, but for Tate A.K.O., a prop stylist and artist originally living in Brooklyn, the year had her suddenly running a restaurant in California, balancing creative projects through a pandemic (like art directing a Guerriers shoot!), and starting a new side hustle called Chuko News slinging vintage finds on the web.
Read on to find out how she’s channeled her warrior energy to take on the hardships, and how Animal Crossing and weed gummies are the best way to unwind from it all.
What people call you: Tate
Where you live: Brooklyn and Northern California
What you do: Artist/Prop Stylist
How would you describe your style?
Galactic Librarian
Who are your icons? What is it about them that inspires you?
Parker Posey in Party Girl. Lil' bit rebellious, lil' bit bookworm.
When do you feel most confident?
After a hot shower
What’s your daily routine?
My days are all over the place. It depends on the day and the job. The two things I routinely do though are make a big pot of tea in the morning and massage oil into my face before I go to bed.
Describe a time in your life when you felt like a modern warrior.
The pandemic has really brought the warrior out in everyone. Pre-pandemic I'd get my adrenaline pumping when I was out sourcing props for shoots or after a hot yoga class, but now the stakes are so much higher that doing anything makes you feel like a warrior. My father passed away earlier this year and I inherited his restaurant right before COVID ravaged the world. Keeping that running while also trying to keep my creative practices a float has definitely made me stronger.
How do you relax and unwind?
Animal Crossing, a weed gummy, and the Cozy Rain Youtube channel.
What keeps you going?
Creative projects with friends.
Something you’re obsessed with right now:
Gah! My obsessions change on a weekly basis, but right now it's my newsletter Chūko News. It's a list and moodboard of the best vintage homeware in NYC and the Bay Area.
Words to live by:
I just spent 5 minutes looking for a quote before I realized there are no words I really live by other than "keep it simple, stupid."
What’s your hype up song or anthem:
"Ceremony" by Joy Division. Forever and ever I will love this song. Not really a hype song, but it always makes me feel warm inside.
What does Warrior mean to you?
Someone who's not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get a little dirty, who's resilient in the face of adversity and knows when to ask for backup.