This post was updated Nov. 20 at 9:10 p.m.
Gage Garduno fashions his multidisciplinary career around unapologetic authenticity.
The fourth-year architectural studies student recites his work “big four”: styling, modeling, DJing and directing. Garduno said he started sharing his creative journey during the pandemic when he started posting styling videos on TikTok. Since then, the Oceanside, California, native has maintained his love of fashion while also experimenting with other artistic mediums. Today, with over 58,000 Instagram followers and nearly 100,000 on his TikTok @gageyayaya, Garduno said he uses his notoriety to convey his creative potential.
“I want to be taken seriously for my artistic vision, but at the same time, I want people to know that I’m not a very serious person,” Garduno said. “But what I do, I take seriously.”
Garduno said his career spans across mediums that build off one another. He added that his start in styling outfits led him to model as well, and his DJ sets prompted his exploration of audiovisuals. Across his work, Garduno said he is able to craft his own personal brand, where each project is a manifestation of his all-encompassing artistic vision.
“I would describe it (my style) as a chaotic, messy party girl,” Garduno said. “That same kind of mindset of … not really caring what anybody else thinks and doing what I want to do unapologetically has really influenced the way I go about mixing music or directing. … I lean into the uncanny aesthetic of it all.”
Garduno said his evolution accompanies his broader shift in intention. After years of posting comedic videos, he added that he hopes to expand his social media image to highlight his directing, DJing and other “big four” projects. The multimedia creator added that he aims to spotlight his other artistic capabilities in his videos beyond just his funny content.
The artist revealed how immersing himself in UCLA’s creative communities has inspired his potential. Through his architectural studies major and involvement in campus clubs, he said he was able to meet, work with and be challenged by others.
“Freshman year … I came in … thinking, ‘I know it all,’” Garduno said. “I closed myself off to some of the most impactful UCLA opportunities that I would eventually get to. … It took a lot of maturing – mentally and emotionally – just to be like, ‘Why? I’m at UCLA. I worked so hard to get here. Why would I not take advantage of these amazing resources and opportunities … and open myself up to other people at this school?’”
Garduno said he values sharing ideas with and working alongside others as he explores new projects. He added that he maintains a notes of all the stylists, musicians and creatives that inspire him so he can later reference and credit them. He added that he admires artists such as Maria Roi – who creates a strong, unique aesthetic that spans mediums and genres – and @emoticon_angel on Instagram.
The creative shares this gratitude with his collaborators as well, said Collin Brown, a friend and UCLA alumnus who worked on content with Garduno. Brown said the artist infuses humor into his approach, adding that collaborating felt like getting paired with your best friend in class on a school project. Brown said Garduno’s work is always fun – filled with jokes, an occasional southern accent and lots of laughter.
“‘It’s not like, ‘Thank you for taking this photo,’” Brown said. “He’s more like, ‘Thank you for helping me come out of a body bag.’ … We’re doing all these crazy things, and he knows they’re crazy, but he’s still very appreciative about it.”
Leonardo Breitenstein, who collaborated with Garduno on styling and directing, said the creator’s intentionality – especially evident when he modeled for FAST at UCLA’s runway show – inspired him to reach out to Garduno to collaborate. The stylist referred to Garduno as a visionary with fashion who crafts corsets into skirts and transforms heels with tights.
“There’s never a dull moment when I’m with Gage,” Breitenstein said. “We are always ‘heheing’ and laughing.”
Brown said Garduno never seems concerned if people are staring. Even when men laughed at them as they were shooting videos, Garduno would prioritize his craft and pause only to ask if the shot looked good, Brown added.
As Garduno prepares to share new SoundCloud mixes, release visualizers – which he has styled, directed, filmed and mixed himself – and embark on a tour across Los Angeles, the creative director said he intends to push himself in new ways as he shows off his true skills across his various mediums.
“What has impacted me the most in terms of reactions is when I can meet other young people … who might come up to me … and resonate with the fact that my videos have shown them that a young queer creator can have fun in public,” Garduno said. “One guy came up to me, and he told me that … it meant so much to her (his trans partner) to see another LGBTQ individual just having fun and being unapologetic and wearing my crazy outfit. … Those are always what I come back to as to the reason why I am creating.”
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