photo by: Stephanie Land

I have been dabbling in art since pre-k, when I would rush through class assignments to get first dibs on the big box of scrap paper in the back of the class. That love for the empty surface quickly found all the blank pages in the fronts and backs of our encyclopedia collections ripped out. "Those sheets were put there for me" I thought. And no one ever noticed.

The past has always been something that I've felt we could/should learn from, and advertising has always been a reflection of the desires and societal norms that are driven into the hearts and minds of consumers. Well... what if those driven desires became more positively influential on our minds and inner beings? Thus, giving us something to take into the way we live our lives, and approach the world around us.

I try to express my aspiration to live my best life, through my fascination with poetry, typography, numerology, vintage signs and advertising design. And through this method I try to encourage others to do the same. This is my way of learning, teaching, and inspiring.

I also love the natural deterioration of things, whether they are surfaces or objects. Things that have developed an aged, experienced look. Dirty things like antique labels, vintage posters and old books. Art will be around a long time to come- and what better messages to leave behind. No one ever gets tired of feeling good....No one should.

Born:
Augusta, 1976. Lived in Atlanta, Ga from 1997-2005. Now lives and works in Brooklyn, NY

Education:
Self-Taught Artist
Dekalb Technical Institute: Visual Communications, 1999

Solo Exhibitions:
2007 "Aspirations" Tubman African American History Museum, Macon, GA
2007 " Note to Self" Gallery Fraga: Bainbridge Island, WA
2005 “Future Becomings” Claret Arts: Atlanta, GA
2004 “Retro Notions” Claret Arts: Atlanta, GA
2004 “Recent works” Octane: Atlanta GA
2003 “ Love is...” Open Artist Studio: Atlanta, GA

Group Exhibitions:
2008 "The Grind 2.0" The Rabbithole Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2007 "Group Show" BBDO Art Gallery, NYC, NY
2006 “When Magic Happens” Art 6 Gallery: Richmond,VA
2006 “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” Anchorage Museum of History and Art: Anchorage, Alaska
2006 “Two Person Show: Recent Works” Tag Art Gallery: Nashville, Tennessee
2005 “Think Small Exhibition” Art 6 Gallery: Richmond, VA
2005 Affordable Art Fair: Clapham Art Gallery (London, UK) New York, NY
2005 “Open Gallery Show” E. Weber Gallery: Atlanta GA
2005 Decatur Arts Walk: Decatur, GA
2005 Art Expo New York
2004 Spin & Gin Fundraiser : Atlanta, GA
2004 Decatur Arts Walk: Decatur, GA
2004 “Group Show: Recent Works” Iridium Gallery: Roswell, GA
2004 “Open Gallery Show” Iridium Gallery: Roswell, GA
2004 “Roswell Art Walk” Taylor Kinzel Gallery: Roswell, GA

Press & Miscellaneous:
2009 Movie: 2012 ( Shooting)
2008 ABC's Pushing Daisies
2008 HBO's BIg Love
2008 CBS's How I Met Your Mother
2007 ABC's October Road
2006 TBS’s Movie and a Makeover: Original art commission for room redesign
2006 ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition: 9 pieces chosen to design completely new home for necessitous family
2005 Access Atlanta: Exhibition Review, Jerry Cullem
2005 ABC’s Freddie: Image chosen as part of permanent set design for nationally airing sitcom
2005 ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition: 4 paintings chosen to design completely new home for necessitous family
2005 Art World News: April issue


What Inspires Me: Everything. I see things everywhere and everyday that gives me some idea for my pieces. I love to visit flea markets and antique markets. I notice the natural aging of the things around us. Billboard signs, buildings, packages, and aging paper catch my attention.I seek to replicate the rustingand decaying look of the things I see. Music - all kinds. I am working on a slight taste for country. And that doesn't seem to working out. It is much harder than I thought. Other artists - Sabrina Ward Harrison, Rik Catlow, Anja Kroenke, Tim Marrs, Ashley Wood and various Fine and Folk artists. Some local artist that I love- Travis Pack, Ryan Lincicome, Cedric Smith, Julie West, Lance McBride, Demetrious Noble among others. Poets and poetry (Saul Williams, Sabrina Ward Harrison). Tons of books and mags. My friends Alot of my paintings come from what I write often in my Journal/Idea books. Alot of times my friends and the people I meet say the most brilliant things and they sometimes never mean them the way I hear them. Lucky me I guess. Literature Neil Gaiman- this dude is brilliant. The Sandman, American Gods, Angels and Visitations

Interests: I love furniture and dreaming up living spaces. Decor stuff. Movies, collecting & listening 2 music. Books (Angels, Aliens, Theology) and Writing. Learning to enjoy the small things about life- like walking in the sand barefoot. Riding my bike around the city. Daily getaways listening to my iPod ( I tend to really visit new places when I do this). Talking and making slid connections with people. Learning about people and their stories. Everybody has them- not everybody has someone that wants to lsiten to them. & DREAMING... Always Dreaming.