An Inspired Chat with DAVENCHY of Decatur

We’re looking forward to introducing you to DAVENCHY . Check out our conversation below.

DAVENCHY , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: When was the last time you felt true joy?
Recently. I had started off the morning shooting a pitch of merchandise to a brand. It had been some of my best creative direction and designs to date. A few hours later, I received a rejection of the proposal. Normally, this type of event would be upsetting, feeling that all my hard work was in vain. Instead, I took this opportunity to choose to focus on what *was* going right about my day so far. Soon, I realized at the moment I received this rejection, I had received it while I was at my home desk, working on another one of my projects, with my favorite cup of coffee and breakfast sandwich. It felt like I was at my real job, until I realized – This is my real job; I’m doing it – I had been here all along. As creators, we often get stuck in the hustle of everyday survival in order to support our craft, with hopes of having our gifts support us full time. We spend so much time in this space that before we know it, we look up and see that we’ve spent all this time chasing, and never being in the present.

Not “having enough time” before and after the dreaded 9-5 didn’t matter – I had enough time and resources *right now*. My day job suddenly felt secondary. I was immediately thankful and filled with joy knowing that I was done chasing, and living what I set out to do with my life. I was re-filled with my purpose. This change in perspective, boosted my faith, hope, and confidence. Knowing that I had truly arrived at my destination, it was comforting knowing that all I needed to do from that point forward was to learn the road and enjoy the ride. My work over the years were not in vain. I proceeded to have the best day I had in a very long time.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I go by “DAVENCHY” (which represents creative multi-discipline), and I am an artist & designer focused in Creative Direction under my brand “GDMRNGWORLD”. The seed to my artistry is rooted in Illustration. It is my first love and is what I come back to whenever I feel creatively or personally lost.

My objective is to visit different houses of art, luxury & street fashion, design, and music to lend my creative skill. Putting people together to create something for the greater good is the puzzle I love solving. As a Creative Director, I have to wear many hats and possess many skills – from strategy, activation of projects and spaces, and people management, to artwork, design, photography and film. I do all of these things through the mind of an Illustrator. Although I am skilled in multiple creative disciplines, I find the most pride and fulfillment working with and learning from creators who are experts in those respective fields. Some of the brands I would like to Creative Direct and collaborate with are Versace, Coach, Supreme, Nike, and Carhartt. I also want to collaborate with local fashion brands of Atlanta, as well as brands of my hometown in Cincinnati, Ohio.

What makes my branding unique is that I show up authentically with real life experiences and inspirations and fuse them into visuals and designs. It is set up in chapters like a book. This current chapter is “DAVENCHY’s (Red) Garden” – representing being “marked” (usually noted by using the color Red), martyrdom, and growth through pain. My early childhood was spent in the prime of the 90’s, and my pivotal years in the early 2000’s, so I am able to embody both old school and new school elements to make something completely new. Television was a large part of my upbringing, so I was exposed to a range of creative visuals like “In Living Color”, “The Simpsons”, “Bebe’s Kids”, Nickelodeon, SpongeBob, “The Boondocks” (I used to read the Boondocks comic strip in the newspaper) and many other reputable cartoons that came out during those eras. Additionally, music also played a very important role. My dad had a crazy stereo system with an abundance of CD’s, cassettes, and vinyls, and there was music being played in the household regularly. My brand is built on homage, so it’s normal for me to use music, designs, pop-references, fashion and artwork styles of the past. It’s nostalgic without being outdated or trendy. I’m an old soul.

Currently I’m juggling two of my identities at once – being a traditional artist and preparing for galleries, and developing my creative direction projects, with Creative Direction being the heavier focus. I am working on designs and preparing pitch decks to some of the entities I mentioned above. I’m also directing my own branding with scarves I’m making. It is less about the scarf and more about the story that’s being told by the person who’s wearing it by way of photography, artwork and cinematography. My goal this year is to land at least one gallery show, and at least one brand collaboration.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Creatively, there are 3 people who come in mind – My friend Rick, an art teacher at my alma mater (The Ohio State University), and an artist friend named Arris. I worked in a factory with Rick during a time I had illustrated a portrait of Gucci Mane (which Gucci was using as his social media identity at the time). Rick was amazed. He commented “I know you drew [Gucci Mane], but when I look at it, I see [DAVENCHY]!” It forever changed how I looked at my work. I’m naturally bashful so I don’t do many self portraits, but Rick made me realize that everything I do is in some way a self-portrait. It totally changed how I approach and look at my work. He couldn’t be more spot on.

My art teacher in college said my drawing work reminded her of Henry Matisse, who was part of the Modernism and Post-Impressionism eras of Art. Those eras placed emphasis on abstract qualities and symbolism over realism. No matter how realistic I make my artwork, it has an undeniable playfulness and illustrative DNA. She was European like Matisse, who was from France. That changed my perspective and helped me to honor the art history that came before me. It also influences the fine art direction in my work.

Arris first planted the seed of “Creative Director”. I was in my element at his apartment in college, explaining a character I had thought of for a cartoon during one of our many music-listening sessions. I had acted out and visualized all the components of this character, and when I was finished, he asked “Have you ever thought about being a creative director?” I had all the natural abilities at the time, but he was the first to bring it to light with a formal title, making me realize that I am indeed a Creative Director.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
Honestly, it wasn’t until I hit my 30’s that I stopped hiding my pain. I like to call life’s inevitable pitfalls the “beautiful tragedies of life”. If you look throughout creative history, many of the best works come from those who implanted their pain into their artistry. I learned along the way to believe in my path, and that my experiences are unique and make myself and art what they are. I realized a while ago that I cannot be who I want to be if I am not vulnerable in *all* aspects of my life. It is one of the “beautiful tragedies” an artist must go through in order to become the supreme version of their self.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
Fads are built quickly and follow the current trend of the times. Foundational shifts are slowly built off of authenticity, which is why most foundational trends end up being timeless. I can spot foundational trends early on by a few signs. For starters, they are only known to a niche community at first. Also, the trend values functionality over appearance – it is a part of the user’s real lifestyle. It feels natural and intuitive. Think of Ralph Lauren, where a lot of the influence is based in Western cowboy and NYC business culture, or FUBU and Supreme, where those brands are built around timeless foundations of NYC culture in art, hip-hop, and sports. Jordan Brand (Nike Air) still thrives off the bridge that was built from the streets to athletics, where wearing athletic sneakers off the court rose to popularity. Today, the most prominent player’s signature sneakers are not only designed for functionality, but keep in mind how they look and perform off-court with everyday fashion. These culture’s were built into the DNA of American lifestyle, and is a big reason why they are still around in the present day. They set precedents for brands that came after them.

Fads take the above foundations and exploit parts or all of it for quick gain. Also, fads may create something so extreme, that there is a clear sign the trend is unsustainable. There is nothing wrong with fads, and a lot of them are actually enjoyable. However, you have to keep in mind that all fads come to an end eventually, because they are not built on firm foundations. These distinctions can be used across a variety of situations to differentiate fad from foundation. Proceed with fads cautiously, and use them to your advantage when the opportunity presents itself.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing? 
My biggest regret would be thinking that my ship has sailed when I hit a certain age. We are in an era where ageism in the creative arts is slowly starting to disappear and reinvent itself. Masters of their crafts are being applauded when they display the abundance of knowledge and skill they have gained over decades of practice. A lot of creatives put pressure on themselves, thinking they’ve failed by not making it in their 20’s or 30’s. In my opinion, these eras are actually where your real journey begins. You have presumably gained the base knowledge, experience, and resources to build your life into what you want it to be. I would be heartbroken in my 60’s, if I had to reflect on the past and realize I actually had an abundance of time in my 30’s, where most people think it’s “over” when it comes to building your ideal lifestyle. I would regret not bringing an idea to life, not spending time with family and friends because I’m “too busy”, or something as simple as going to a pick-up court to hoop like I used to. Even outside of creativity, I would regret not living my life to the fullest by being consumed in American work culture and capitalism. The best things in life are often free, and only require your time and presence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.davenchy.art
• Instagram: @lamontdavenchy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doranstarks

Image Credits
Matt Watkins (Cover Photo)
Jamal Puryear