Today we’d like to introduce you to Reggie Griffin.
Hi Reggie, 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 2018, I made my way back to Atlanta, where I started working at a local printshop. In my 3.5 years working there, I was able to meet a lot of emerging, mid-career, and established Artist. I was able to make some great connection in different areas in the local art scene. During that time, I researched a lot of art events from 2018-2019, seeing how other Artist would convey, display, and present their work. At the time, I didn’t have many pieces freshly out of college, but I found myself very inspired by my peers and the moves they were making. In 2020, when the city shut down, I was really sick for almost 2 months during the lockdown. During that time, I did not know if I would live through my Covid sickness. Previously, I had promised myself I would learn how to paint to the degree I could draw and illustrate. As the pandemic was in full effect, I dedicated 12-14 hours a day to learn painting techniques on YouTube. Once I was able to go back to work, I continued to develop these skills every day for 1 full year, which allowed me to produce 40+ paintings in that time 2021-present day I have done 100+ art shows, event, exhibitions, critiques, and mentorship’s to further develop myself on my path as a Fine Artist. These days, I have partnerships, gallery representation, and brand connections that have been the result of countless hours of work and dedication.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, the road was not and is not smooth. Find what route you want to take in your journey is a lifelong task. I have had struggles with loss of loved ones, time, and expenses at many points as I put forth efforts towards my legacy.
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?
My art is an ode to the power of storytelling and the human experience. Using a combination of acrylic paint, spray paint, and textures, I create images that depict people as books, each book representing the stories of their fantasies, endeavors, accomplishments, or emotions. By replacing the head of figures with a book, I’m illustrating the immense symbolism of our lives, bringing stories, memories, and experiences that shape who we are.
Using stacks of books with plants, animals and/or insects in my art, I am hoping to reveal the intricate interconnectedness of life and how experiences can be transferred down from one generation to another through stories. Every person is like a book full of stories, holding the secrets of their inner worlds. Every stroke of paint, every layer of texture, and every shape in my work tells a story – a story that I’m trying to bring to life and share with others.
Through my art, I aim to inspire others to introspect and see the beautiful connections between their own lives and the broader collective experience. For me, art is the most powerful tool to express the stories that shape us as individuals and as a society.
Alright, so before we go, can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
People can work with me, collaborate with me, or support me by engaging deeply with the stories and visions behind each piece of my art. I’m always open to collaborations that involve bringing to light the untold stories of individuals or communities through my distinct visual language of books, textures, and colors. Artists, writers, educators, and community organizers who are interested in exploring the myriad ways in which art can capture and communicate human experiences are welcome to join me in creating projects that reflect our collective tales and dreams.
Support can also come from art collectors, galleries, and patrons who resonate with the mission of my work—to illuminate the richness of human experience and the interconnectivity of our lives through storytelling and visual expression. By acquiring pieces, sponsoring exhibitions, or funding community art projects, supporters directly contribute to the amplification of voices and stories that may otherwise go unheard.
Furthermore, I am open to interdisciplinary collaborations that cross traditional boundaries, such as with technology specialists aiming to bring the stories depicted in my art into the digital world or with environmentalists eager to explore the relationship between nature and narrative through mixed-media installations.
Ultimately, supporting my work means participating in a larger conversation about identity, memory, and the threads that connect us all. Whether through artistic collaboration, financial support, or simply by engaging with my art and sharing its messages, each contribution helps in spinning the yarn of our collective human story.
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