Life & Work with Chappell Love of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chappell Love.

Hi Chappell, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In the spring of 2010, I left Atlanta and moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, with two goals in mind: become a bartender and write my first book, *Lessons of a Lifetime*. Once I accomplished both, I realized my journey in Massachusetts had served its purpose. In August of 2010, I packed up and came back home to Georgia, not knowing that my real creative journey was just beginning.

By November of that same year, I met a group of men who would completely change the trajectory of my life: **The Fakulte Music Group**. I joined them first as a writer and observer, but naturally my role grew. I became their social media manager, hands-on assistant, documentarian, and, in many ways, their storyteller. The Fakulte wasn’t just a music collective. It was a family of producers, writers, engineers, MCs, and visionaries who pushed one another to create without limits.

Being around that kind of creativity inspired me to start a blog called *My Experience with The Fakulte*, where I documented what happened behind the scenes. I wrote about the creative process, everyday life, the friendships, the struggles, the victories, and all the moments in between. I had a front row seat to something special, and I felt called to preserve it through words.

Although the group eventually dismantled, the relationships never did. The brotherhood remained, and so did the impact they had on my life. Spending years around artists also awakened something in me. I developed a deep love for photography and videography, finding myself just as inspired behind the camera as I was behind the keyboard.

Those relationships continued opening doors. Through The Fakulte, I met one of my closest friends and brothers, Jamin, owner of Tech Genius in Atlanta. I began working there in 2014, and it became far more than a job. It became another classroom. I learned new technical skills, worked behind the scenes on countless projects and events, met incredible people, and continued expanding my creative abilities. Years later, it was also the place where I held my very first art show, a milestone that reminded me creativity always finds another way to express itself.

Then, in 2017, another chapter unfolded. Through a member of The Fakulte, I met Tyree Smith, the creator of ARTlanta. That relationship flipped another creative switch inside of me. Painting became more than something I experimented with. It became another language I could speak. Through Tyree, I found myself immersed in Atlanta’s visual arts community and surrounded by artists who challenged me to grow.

In 2021, Tyree invited me to help build what was then a brand-new vision from the ground up, now known as Chace Village and Chace Farms. Once again, I found myself working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring people I have ever met. Whether I was helping behind the scenes, documenting moments, organizing projects, or simply observing, I was exactly where I was meant to be. I’ve learned that some of the most meaningful work happens away from the spotlight, and I’ve always been comfortable there.

Looking back, what means the most to me isn’t simply the work I’ve done. It’s the relationships I’ve built. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing extraordinary talent up close and forming lifelong friendships with people whose creativity continues to inspire me. Even though The Fakulte no longer exists as it once did, it will always be home to me. They are family. I’ll always consider myself one of their storytellers whenever I’m fortunate enough to be in the room.

Today, the production duo once known as Stockton N Smith continues creating incredible music under a new name, carrying forward the heart and soul that helped define The Fakulte. Watching so many of the people I love continue to grow and create has been one of the greatest gifts of my own journey.

In 2022, life introduced me to my greatest masterpieces: my twin sons, Sun and Sol. Becoming their mother shifted everything. They are both neurodivergent, and through raising them I discovered that I am neurodivergent as well. That realization didn’t limit me. It gave language to experiences I had carried my entire life and reshaped the way I see learning, creativity, and human development.

Today, I’m in my third year of college studying psychology with a concentration in mental health. I still write. I still paint. I still love photography and visual storytelling. But my work has evolved into something even bigger. I’m developing a philosophy and educational curriculum inspired by my own journey of unlearning, self-discovery, and the experience of raising my sons. Every chapter of my life has prepared me for this one, and for the first time I can see how all of those seemingly separate paths have always been leading toward the same purpose.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of my biggest struggles has been being misunderstood.

For many years, I was deeply committed to the pursuit of self-awareness and the knowledge of self. From the outside, people often saw only the physical changes and life decisions. They saw me leave jobs, end relationships, relocate, let go of familiar identities, or choose an unconventional path. To many, those choices looked reckless or confusing. What they couldn’t see was the inner work that was taking place beneath the surface.

Self-discovery isn’t always beautiful while you’re living it. Sometimes it requires stripping away everything that no longer reflects who you truly are. That process can look like loss before it looks like growth. It can be incredibly lonely because you’re surrounded by people who only understand the version of you they’ve always known, while you’re trying to meet the person you’ve always been.

There were moments when I questioned myself because very few people understood what I was doing or why I was doing it. But I kept going because I believed that becoming authentic was worth the discomfort. Looking back, I realize those seasons weren’t obstacles. They were the foundation for everything I’m building today.

Now, as a mother, an artist, and a psychology student, I can see that those years of self-discovery taught me compassion, patience, and the courage to question inherited beliefs instead of simply accepting them. They also inspired the philosophy I’m developing today around unlearning, authentic development, and creating space for people, especially children, to discover who they truly are rather than who the world expects them to be.

If I’ve learned anything, it’s that the path to knowing yourself is rarely crowded. It can feel lonely, but sometimes solitude is where your truest voice finally has room to speak.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a multidisciplinary creative whose work has never fit neatly into one category. Over the years I’ve been a writer, photographer, videographer, social media manager, creative assistant, event support, visual artist, and now a psychology student focused on mental health. My career has been built less around chasing titles and more around following creativity wherever it leads.

Much of my work has happened behind the scenes. I’ve had the privilege of supporting musicians, producers, artists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders as they brought their visions to life. Whether I was writing, documenting creative processes, organizing projects, managing social media, or simply being a dependable part of the team, I’ve always found purpose in helping good ideas become reality.

Today, my work has expanded into something even more personal. Alongside raising my twin boys, I’m developing a philosophy and educational curriculum centered on authentic human development, self-awareness, and what I call the process of unlearning. My studies in psychology continue to deepen that work, allowing me to connect lived experience with research and theory.

More than anything, I’m proud of remaining authentic through every chapter of my life. I’ve never tried to become someone else to fit into a room. I’ve trusted that being myself would eventually lead me to the right people, the right opportunities, and the right purpose.

I think what truly sets me apart is my authenticity and the way I approach challenges. I don’t see problems as walls. I see them as opportunities to understand something more deeply. I’m known for being calm in difficult situations, for being a strong support system, and for helping others see possibilities when things feel uncertain. I’ve never needed to be the center of attention. I’m just as fulfilled helping someone else’s vision come to life as I am creating my own.

At the heart of everything I do, whether it’s writing, painting, documenting a story, supporting a creative team, or raising my children, my goal is the same: to leave people, places, and ideas more understood than I found them.

What’s next?
Right now, I’m in one of the most transformative seasons of my life. I’m finishing my psychology degree with a concentration in mental health while continuing to raise my twin boys, who have become my greatest teachers. Every day they challenge me to think differently about learning, communication, and human development.

The work I’m most excited about is bringing together everything I’ve experienced over the past two decades. My background in the arts, my years documenting creative communities, my personal journey of self-discovery, my education in psychology, and my experience raising neurodivergent children are all coming together into one vision.

I’m currently developing a philosophy and curriculum that explores authentic development, self-awareness, and the process of unlearning. My hope is to create resources that encourage both children and adults to discover who they are before the world tells them who they should be. I believe some of our greatest growth comes not from adding more information, but from having the courage to question what we’ve inherited and consciously choose what we carry forward.

Creatively, I plan to continue writing, painting, and documenting the stories that inspire me. I also hope to publish my work, expand my creative practice, and continue collaborating with artists and visionaries who are building meaningful things in their communities.

More than chasing success, I’m building a life that’s aligned with my values. If my work can help people better understand themselves, create more authentically, or raise the next generation with greater awareness and compassion, then I’ll know I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: I.am.chappell.love/ chappellovesart
• Other: https://www.blogger.com/u/2/blog/posts/1040477656891066360 and https://www.blogger.com/u/2/blog/posts/7992779278988676151