Airen Kizer grew up in an artistic family and has always loved the trade, but it wasn’t until recently that she decided to turn it into a business. Her new business venture — called kizercustoms — offers patrons an opportunity to have shoes and clothes customized.
Airen is 21 years old and the daughter of renowned artist Aaron Kizer — an Owensboro native with clients nationwide. Airen considers her father a primary source of inspiration and a driving force in her efforts to improve both as an artist and a person.
“My father has always been a huge inspiration to me. Growing up, he always taught me to be open-minded and to do things that set me apart from the crowd,” she said. “When I was little, I used to be so mesmerized watching him draw, which at the time he was using pastels, and I’ve just never truly understood how to use those and make them work in the way that he did.”
Art has always served as the ultimate escape for Kizer, as she has often resorted to it during times of stress. The risk of failure discouraged her from turning it into a business during her younger years, but she’s ecstatic to now be pursuing her dream.
“I had always strived to be as good as my dad, and I started using art as an outlet whenever I got stressed; it was my escape,” she said. “Truly, I have always just loved art so much. It’s a dream to be able to turn it into a business. I have always put my art on the back burner because of the fear that I wouldn’t be successful, but if you don’t take risks, how will you ever know if it’ll work or not?”
Her dad also taught her that you could not be afraid to fail because that will continuously set you back from many opportunities.
When she’s not handcrafting beloved art, she’s working diligently to earn a bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy.
While the primary focus of her business is customizing shoes, Kizer also offers customized clothes, hand-tufted rugs, and typical art commissions. She’s presently creating a website, but until then, potential clients should reach out via email at [email protected] or search @kizercustoms on Instagram.
