Showing Up When You'd Rather Disappear...

ARTSKOOL episode 001

After being selected from a short list of Atlanta artists to be apart of the inaugural Lagos Atlanta Arts Exchange, I noticed that two different artists; Victor Ehikamenor and Miya Bailey are funding community art spaces the same way; with money directly from their art sales.

These two artists both believe in the value of building communities from the ground up and providing opportunities for others to walk in the door they left open. As artists, many of us who are self taught are first sponsored by our art. If we can figure out who our collectors our, they become partners in building whatever world we desire. My world includes making independent films, developing programming and curriculum and now traveling back home to do art exhibitions in three weeks utilizing an interdisciplinary mixed media style I've developed across music, art and film.

Shot on location in Lagos and Atlanta by Artemus Jenkins

music by Marcus Green aka Silk tha Chakras

DOCUMENTARIANS NEED TO WORLD BUILD TOO...

My first artist residency was for two years, starting in 2020. By 2021 I was invited to participate in a group exhibition called “Virtual Remains” curated by TK Smith. The title of my installation was “FREE WIFI”. I have a number of stories about the word WIFI, but first lets start with pronounciation which is (wee-fee) .

WIFI was someone who saw a way out into the world and dedicated his life to travel and film. At the time of his death his only belongings were in a trunk, including a bunch of old hard drives. There were no photos of WIFI, so this drawing was created to represent his spirit at his homegoing ceremony. Everything had gone digital during that time, even the funerals; so with this installation I was challenged to examine the effectiveness of sharing and preserving memories and emotions thru digital means…

I could go on, but I just wanted to introduce you to this character’s first appearance in any of my work.

WIFI URN

2021

sculpture by Ellex Swavoni

ceramic, plywood stand and fabric

“VIRTUAL REMAINS” INSTALLATION during ATLANTA BIENNIALE at ATLANTA CONTEMPORARY

At CITY OF INK 18TH ANNIVERSARY ART EXHIBIT, Feb 2025

“ A LIL FREE WIFI”

2025

oil stick, various papers, acrylic on wood

#3 IN KID ON BIGWHEEL SERIES

sketch

HOW TO BE A DOPE ARTIST COMING IN APRIL, I CAN CONFIRM THAT PEOPLE STILL BUY BOOK$

#2 IN KID ON BIGWHEEL SERIES SOLD BEFORE THE SHOW

#1 IN KID ON BIGWHEEL SERIES ALSO SOLD BEFORE THE SHOW

“MMM CHECK PLEEEASE”

New Year, Same Me...a lil better tho

2024 was all about fortification.
2025 is the time we elevate and evolve from the foundation we created for ourselves—most importantly, with those we love and who love us back.

To elevate, we first must be critical of ourselves and of the communities we build within. These ideas inspired my second solo exhibition, “They Should Have Never Gave You Niggas Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice,” which opened in June 2024 in Atlanta, GA, at Hidden Gallery 333.

An area I’ve always critiqued about myself is how little I share my art, despite having so much to offer in so many ways. For over 15 years, I’ve been building an archive of images featuring the world around me,but who would ever know until I show?

Most of this avoidance has been based on the fact that the nigganet (a word I just made up for the internet) just doesn’t respect intellectual property rights. The rest comes from my own doubts and insecurities, which I gracefully work through in private : )
The plan has always been to one day create mixed-media works from all these damn terabytes, unified by some profound thought.

Recently, I’ve been reminded that plenty of profound thoughts already exist, and it’s best to use those,then you can focus on making dope and profound work.
As the saying goes, “Free your mind, and the rest/yo ass will follow.”

This exhibition was successful not only because I sold art but because it validated every idea I’ve had about how I want to be supported by a community while making it. The people in your life are a direct reflection of where you are in life and the success that awaits you. From the home my family is developing to the studios where I create the work to the gallery where I exhibited, it’s clear to me that people who understand what success really is rub off on you in many ways…and the art reflects that.

I put this exhibition together while bringing a newborn into the world, supporting my beautiful lady in her 4th trimester, and editing a docuseries pilot for a book I wrote about being a better artist and person, all so that whatever happens next in this world, my next moves could be the ABSOLUTE best ones I could make in 2025.

The best way I could describe what Atlanta is to me would be: the perfect foundation for elevation. The city is built on granite, for starters. Even though Atlanta is a lot of imperfect things, you get the most out of it, in my experience, by first getting the most out of yourself.

Thanks for reading, writing is one of the many things I will stop gatekeeping for myself I suppose and continue sharing here. Next up I will be writing more about the home studio and why it’s a crucial and important space to me. This year RESIDENCE is strong on my heart because I’ve benefitted ALOT this pandemic era from having places available to get this art off!

Be sure to visit my store and ARTSY to view and collect works from this series and others in process. Message me for any and all art inquires. PEACE, PEACE YA’LL

Studio Tour with Victor Ehikhamenor

Part One up on Patreon now!

let the oversharing begin...

From October 7th-November 21st I was in Lagos, Nigeria as a residency fellow for the Inaugural Lagos-Atlanta Art Exchange. While there I put together a solo exhibition of digital collage works created in Lagos, met a bunch of dope people, ate a BUNCH despite what my svelte figure reveals and just learned and experienced more than I can say in words. That’s why I’m creating some places you can see and learn all about what I was doing in Lagos without me telling the stories 80 different times.

Over the coming weeks, I will be posting raw footage timelines as I recap this life changing trip. To learn about Lagos from the perspective of a traveling artist become a free member of my Patreon. This is where you can kinda, sorta edit with me; of course you will have very lil input, but you do get to see this film come together over the next couple months before everyone else does! So if you are in to researching, international travel, photo essays and inside voices, welcome! and tell a friend.

I also have some new artwork in the store to commemorate this launch and provide some highly elevated gifts from abroad in the form of Limited edition prints from the solo exhibit I just completed titled “GITYUSUMPROTECTION”

This week I’ll be dropping another episode of “Special Features” featuring insight on how I approached street photography in Lagos and an interview with founder of Angels and Muse, Victor Ehikhamenor.