DeVante Barnes: Meet the Artist
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Meet DeVante, an artist using their talents of expression through mediums of digital painting, music production, illustration, murals and graphic design. DeVante is an artist of many skillsets. We first worked with them on Windows GR 2020, their piece below is now a part of the Grand Rapids Public Museum permanent collection. They have also been apart of LRCFA’s Barricade initiative and onsite live painting events. We welcome you to learn more about DeVante’s career as an artist in the following interview.
Q: How did you get involved with Lions and Rabbits?
A: Mutual artist friends
Q: What themes/ideas are highlighted in your work? Intentions?
A: Authentic expression of ones self. I try to convey the message of unapologetic expression of the emotions we feel as people. I feel strongly about my identity as a POC and try to express the duality of being multi-racial and the regular identity crisis tied to my experience.
DeVante Barnes Windows GR 2020 painting on view at the Grand Rapids Public Museum
Q: Run us through your creative process - How do you start, flow and finish?
A: It kinda varies. I just like to dedicate some time each day to sketching out things I think look/sound cool, and sometimes those ideas develop into full fledge pieces. With music it's a similar process. I jump into my DAW(digital audio workstation) and play around with different sounds until the idea takes shape.
Q: What obstacles/struggles have you encountered throughout your career as an artist? Or challenges you face through your creative process
A: One of the biggest ones I've faced is my own anxiety. I have a hard time reaching out for new opportunities because of it. Race has also been a huge underlying obstacle, especially here in West Michigan. The communities being set up now are doing more for artists of color but the artists who typically get spaces here, haven't looked like me. I just hope the future holds more opportunities to encourage younger artists, who come from the communities I'm from, to do more. It has taken nearly a decade after my high school graduation to feel any sort of confidence in my ability enough to try for grand opportunities. Before, the luxury of even conceiving the idea that I'd do any of the things I do now wasn't afforded to me. Give poor, black and brown kids the same lanes of opportunity and encouragement we give white kids...I guarantee you there are younger artists better than me who can do greater things.
Q: Can you share a little more about how your art career started. Have you always been in your field? Were you self taught or had additional schooling?
A: I was self taught until high school where I started going to WMCAT and met my mentor George Eberhardt. He taught me most of what I know about illustration and encouraged me to do the things I do now even before I thought of doing them. College was fairly short lived for me. I went to Northern Michigan University for a year but dropped out and went to GRCC and then proceeded to drop out of there as well. Everything after has been experience learned.
Q: Who/what are your biggest inspirations that play a key role in the work you produce?
A: A few artists I take a lot of inspiration from even if not directly visually artistic are Kanye West, Donald Glover, Lady Gaga, DaVinci, and the plethora of artists I surround myself with like Edwin Morales, Kris Gibbs, George Eberhardt, and many more.
Q: Is there anything you wish you could change about your work?
A: Not consciously. Any change in my work will come with developing new perspectives and skill sets.
Q: What mistakes have you made? What did you learn from them? What are you trying to get better at?
A: One of the biggest mistakes I've made was going to college. I jumped too heavy into a system I knew next to nothing about causing stress and anxiety I wish I'd never experienced. College can be a great tool, but the immense work load and financial stress it throws at you is a lot for young people. There should be more programs in schools to prepare students for that transition (if they want to take that route) rather than just telling them they need to go. I'm trying to get better at recognizing my worth as an individual and artist. Recognizing that I am the artist I've always wanted to be and I can be that artist without the approval of anyone.
Q: Do you feel supported by your community as an artist? In what ways could you feel more supported?
A: Encourage young black and brown kids who have stories and abilities they deserve to express. Leaving a legacy of luxury for these people is what would encourage me.
Q: Describe a moment when you felt most proud of yourself
A: After I played an entire set of my own music for a crowd. It was extremely vulnerable but I got nothing but praise from the attendees.
Street Chef Shaw Food truck mural 2021
Q: What's most important to you about what you create, and how it impacts others?
A: The expression. Even if the piece doesn't look finished, I just want to feel like I expressed all I could.
Q: What's next? What are you currently focusing on or looking forward to?
A: I'm currently developing two murals for businesses I'm great friends with. Hëmd owned by Dan Braden, who's opening up his new store on Weston. I'm also developing a piece for Lavish Media Designs owned by John Le, opening up their new studio in Holland.
Q: What does being an artist mean to you? What is the function of artists in society?
A: Artists to me, function as vessels for expression. In every capacity that takes, artists should be expressive.
Q: And of course, if you could chose any vehicle to travel, real or imaginary what would it be?
A: 1986 BMW E30 M3
Follow more of DeVante’s work on instagram.com/devadidit
Thank you for tuning into this week’s Meet the Artist, be sure to checkout more artist stories every week on our blog!
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