More
Take a look inside and see how the people that make up Meow Wolf came to be a part of this otherworldly place.
Photo by Cathlin McCullough.
Behind every mystical Meow Wolf portal in our multiverse is a team of passionate people who make the magic happen every day. In this article, we’re taking a peek behind the curtain to meet some of these talented individuals.
From artistic maintenance to supporting our local non-profits, each team member (aka Shrimp, as we like to call them) has a unique path that has led them here – and a shared love for creativity, collaboration, and curiosity. Let’s hear from our sweet shrimpies about their career journey and what it means to work at a place like Meow Wolf:
What is your name, title and department?
Alli Nauert, Art & Scenic, Exhibitions
Tell us about your role at Meow Wolf and what your day-to-day responsibilities look like.
I have the honor of maintaining the art within the exhibit with the rest of the Art & Scenic team. We do mural touch-ups, find creative ways to fix and secure props in the exhibit, and come up with ideas to plus up the exhibit and have a hand in some community outreach stuff!
How did you get started in your career, and what led you to Meow Wolf?
I got started in my career back in 2011 faux finishing for a haunted house. I fell in love with immersive entertainment and have worked in a variety of theaters and theme parks doing props, scenic work, and even some tech stuff prior to coming here.
What advice would you give to someone looking to follow a similar career path?
Truly the best advice is to stay curious. Apply to all of the opportunities that interest you. Do some type of art everyday and don't be afraid to try a new medium!
What is your favorite thing about your job?
I love the team I work with!! We have an excellent balance between us, Caitlin does a lot of fiber arts and Rob has the best meticulous mind for fixing! Shout out to them!!!
What is your name, title and department?
Will Hill, Events Coordinator, The Real Unreal
Tell us about your role at Meow Wolf and what your day-to-day responsibilities look like.
Working with Guest Services, I assist with ideating & executing open studios activities, questing, and activations. I assist Sales with team building events, field trips, & private events. I also work with Exhibitions to schedule sound checks & site visits.
How did you get started in your career, and what led you to Meow Wolf?
I have a varied career including entrepreneurship, Americorps VISTA, art gallery curator, costume/props/puppet theatre designer, & Drag performer & Emcee. I am a long-time Meow Wolf fan, I was hired as part of the open casting for Grapevine, TX. I am able to use my past experience every day at Meow Wolf.
What advice would you give to someone looking to follow a similar career path?
Have a positive outlook, don’t be afraid to show your authentic self, continue learning, remain professional, reliable, and supportive.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
Providing unique, unexpected experiences for travelers. Being a supportive member of the Meow Wolf team. Bringing people together for the common goal of creative exploration and evolution.
What is your name, title and department?
Kaitlyn Armendáriz, Regional Impact Manager, Grapevine, TX & Houston Exhibitions
Tell us about your role at Meow Wolf and what your day-to-day responsibilities look like.
I work with all of our departments on projects that use our unique resources (like the expertise of our Exhibition teams) to support local arts nonprofits. My day to day is equal parts collecting data, chugging coffee, working with amazing organizations, & finding googly eyes in every bag I own.
How did you get started in your career, and what led you to Meow Wolf?
I landed on several watchlists after semi-accidentally smuggling footage of ISIS destroying heritage sites through Madrid - beginning my work on cultural heritage. 3 international incidents later, a series of events involving a collaborating artist, an art class, & a strawberry sweater led me here.
What advice would you give to someone looking to follow a similar career path?
Read. A lot. Education is the best force for change. I recommend: How to Kill a City, Small Is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered, The Rape of Europa & Barrio America. After? Jump into action. Ideas and theories are the basis for movements, but impact work is putting those into action.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
When students enter the exhibition for the first time. You can see the spark in their eyes as suddenly the creative depths of what they thought possible expands by a mile a millisecond. A reminder of how magical MW is and the role each of us play in pushing the boundaries of what art is and can be.
What is your name, title and department?
Derek Fyffe, Exhibition Tech, Exhibitions
Tell us about your role at Meow Wolf and what your day-to-day responsibilities look like.
I'm an Exhibition Tech, which means my team tries to keep the place running each day. It's a lot of troubleshooting, trying to figure out how things work, and how to improve them. From time to time, we get to try and create new things to make Radio Tave a better place.
How did you get started in your career, and what led you to Meow Wolf?
17 years ago I started my media journey as an FM radio DJ outside Little Rock, Arkansas. I've spent the last 15 years getting involved in video and film production, and along the way fell in love with storytelling. I was advised to apply here, and it quickly became a perfect fit.
What advice would you give to someone looking to follow a similar career path?
Try your hand at learning about electronics, engineering or coding, see if you like it. After that, try and get experience in live production. Corporate AV, or theater. In a lot of ways this job is like a live show that runs twelve hours a day.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
The people. Getting to interact with so many creatives and brainy technology people really gets my brain moving. I also love getting to see guests’ faces when they see something that blows their mind. It's always a fresh reminder of the magic of the place.
From haunted houses and radio booths to international incidents and drag performance, the stories behind Meow Wolf’s team are as diverse and vibrant as the locations themselves. Our team’s passion for art, innovation, and pushing creative boundaries is what makes Meow Wolf so memorable and special.
Whether you're an aspiring artist or just curious about how the hot dogs are made (very well from our perspective), we hope these glimpses into our journeys inspire you on your own creative adventures.
