Keyon Lovett: Meet the Artist
Throughout this interview Keyon accounts his obstacles as an artist and human, constantly prevailing through his journey. From Flint, MI we’ve had the pleasure of working with Keyon on past initiatives like Barricades and Gone Boarding Skate party. A painter, graphic designer and illustrator he highlights the importance of art in society. We thank Keyon for sharing his talent and wisdom with our community.
““We literally freeze time in our creations and encapsulate what is or has been going on around us. We have a responsibility to shed light on all topics of the human experience””
Q: How did you get involved with Lions and Rabbits?
A: In the beginning stages of my art career, I was searching for galleries that showed street art or contemporary art outside of UICA and GRAM. After poking around I learned of Lion's and Rabbit's through word of mouth. I believe I signed my first artist contract with Hannah in 2016
Q: What themes/ideas are highlighted in your work? Intentions?
A: In majority of my work I discuss the idea of being unwanted or being an outcast. I used a character I created named, “Ready the RAT”. Ready is an artist that aspires to be the best in the world but from his experiences keep getting faced with adversity. These adversities are things that I have experienced myself as an artist. I also unpack the "black" experience, connecting the perceptions of how the world sees and uses rodents to how the world sees and uses the "black", people. My intentions are to create conversations to evoke a different lens for others to see through. Not just to point out racism but also to uplift my fellow, "brothers" and "sisters" to seek the truth of their heritage and history so that a relearning can happen and my fellow people can be empowered to be more than a label giving to them.
Barricade Initiative ‘21 at Field and Fire
Q: Run us through your creative process - How do you start, flow and finish?
A: Each piece has its own process. For instance my painting, "United States of Assimilation" I used scholarly written articles, biblical passages and read some books on the human migration patterns. The piece is centered around the Hebrews of the bible and their punishment of becoming scattered across the world because of the breaking of the Torah. Many believe that most, "African Americans" are of Hebrew descent. I began painting a tattered flag using a palette knife. After the acrylic paint was dry to the touch, I began to illustrate over top of the flag. I drew the mice in Hebrew style attire, similar to Hebrew artifacts. The mice transition into tattered clothing, chained together, and then another transition into prisoners. This shows the descending of a once strong people.
Q: What obstacles/struggles have you encountered throughout your career as an artist? Or challenges you face through your creative process
A: I started my career from an obstacle. "The ArtSchoolDropout" was literally created from my time spent in academia trying finish my Art Ed degree. I transferred to GVSU to finish my degree but my portfolio and my credits were rejected and I was forced to enter in as a freshman. The thoughts and feelings of not being good enough or worthy follow me in my work today. In some cases, I still deal with this sting when applying to calls and writing proposals for public art. Yet, I wear my trauma like a badge and try to use that as a teaching tool or connection when reaching out to viewers of my work. We've all felt inadequate, marginalized or less than in our lives at one point in time.
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: After dropping out of the GVSU’s art program I was faced with the difficult decision of whether to return home (Flint, MI) or to find work and stay. For a year I was depressed that none of my plans for life were working out, but I continued to draw, then I eventually taught myself how to paint. I wanted to talk about what I went through but didn't want to always be talking about myself directly. I began drawing characters that would be a representation of me/my frustrations. I drew inspiration from, "Pinky and the Brain", "Mickey Mouse" and other rodent like cartoon figures to create Ready. My first official art show was held at Linc Up for 1st Friday July 17, 2015. The rest is how they say...History.
Q: Who/what are your biggest inspirations that play a key role in the work you produce?
A: As cliche as this may sound, the world around me is my inspiration. The ever-changing human experience we deal with. History, heritage and truth untold is what inspires me.
Q: Is there anything you wish you could change about your work?
A: The only thing I wish for is more money to create more and more!
Q: What mistakes have you made? What did you learn from them? What are you trying to get better at?
A: Biting off more than I can chew. I can attest that I have committed to project for the exposure or money provided from said project that has left me drained and frustrated afterwards. I have since learned the right questions to ask before starting or committing to a project. This helps me after the money has been spent or the exposure dries up because the work is what is always left remaining and that’s what truly matters to me.
Q: Do you feel supported by your community as an artist? In what ways could you feel more supported?
A: Sometimes I personally feel that people do not understand the importance of artists, that we are people who chose to not get average jobs and that we are slackers getting by off of our doodles. So I think more engaging content may be helpful to expose people to the works of artist and artist to the people who the works are meant for. This can be held in artist talks, more artist driven events and better ways for artists to get funding for projects within the community.
Q: Describe a moment when you felt most proud of yourself
A: My 1st major mural in Grand Rapids, "One Wish". After all the dust cleared and the smoke settled I completed my largest piece to date in the alleyway behind Stella’s. It made me proud because I wrote the proposal, sat through the meetings and surveyed the area. That process gave me first hand experience of what it takes to have art placed publicly to be viewed and I appreciate that.
Q: What's most important to you about what you create, and how it impacts others?
A: What is most important to me is that when people see my work they engage with it. I want my work to leave people with a feeling, whatever that feeling is as long as the viewer is engaged with it and can see what I am trying to say whether they agree or not. I believe those engagements matter because tough conversations aren't always had amongst people who look different, they are mostly talked about amongst like minded individuals. So let's give them something to talk about.
Q: What's next? What are you currently focusing on or looking forward to?
A: I am working on a renovation project for a high school in Flint Michigan. Still in the process of collecting funding for it so crossed fingers everything will be approved. Flint area I will be showing at BIPOC at Buckham Gallery. I have been doing a lot of work in Lansing, my biggest project there is a partnership with Plumbers Union Assoc. I am always open for commission paintings and murals, you can also catch me at any of the Michigan Art Festivals as I have applied to all of them.
Q: What does being an artist mean to you? What is the function of artists in society?
A: I think I may have answered this in my past response but I believe that being an artist is as important as being a historian. We literally freeze time in our creations and encapsulate what is or has been going on around us. We have a responsibility to shed light on all topics of the human experience which is pretty significant in my opinion.
Q: And of course, if you could chose any vehicle to travel, real or imaginary what would it be?
A: My grandfathers white blue chevy pickup truck, I miss him dearly and he loved that truck.
Follow more of Keyon’s work on www.theartschooldropout.studio and instagram.com/theartschooldropout
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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