I feel like I have such an aversion to promoting work in color. A lot of the time I feel like I have two clashing personalities, one that wants to make really introspective and weird pieces in black and white — and one that wants to have vibrant pops of color that create a really fun image. In art school, they usually tell you that you need to present only one perspective and distinctive brand to the world. This cultivates a unique style that people can recognize as your own. But artists (and humans in general) are multifaceted people. Who the hell decided that to “make it” as an artist you should only show one side of yourself to the world?
I love making work that explores the psychological. I love the thrill and mystery behind the stories I create and researching local history to enhance projects. And I love that that is what I have chosen to promote as my brand, but I don’t believe that that entirely encapsulates who I am as a person and even more importantly, as an artist.
I also enjoy making work that’s deeply personal. As a transgender man and as an artist I believe I can bring an underrepresented perspective to light within the art community and hopefully, our culture. I want to explore my unique experiences and how I relate to life and this career in uniquely different ways.
So I’ve decided that I’m also going to promote work that’s more fun and lively. I’m going to explore more in color and hopefully find some more facets of myself and my career I would like to explore – and hopefully I can share it all with you, because who says you can’t have it all?
