Today we’d like to introduce you to Drew Davis.
Hi Drew, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Kansas City, Missouri. As a child, I began my art journey as a fine artist, mainly drawing and painting with a big imagination. My work landed me opportunities in gifted programs such as Ace Academy and Summit Tech Academy all prior to college. While in school I realized that what I enjoy most is the ability to innovate and make people view art in different perspectives. I began sewing and making digital art. Sewing has opened the doors to many of the art forms I use today. I began my clothing line, “Retaliation”, and to promote the brand I began doing photography. Capturing people in my clothes led to many photo shoots, both editorial and personal works. I had fallen in love with photography. After high school, I attended SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) in Atlanta, Ga, as a photography major. While attending SCAD, I learned so much about different aspects of art. Being in the city of Atlanta was also huge leverage considering there are many great artists to connect with and learn from. The culture helped me express my art in a way that I could be even more expressive and feel free. After five years of hard work, I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from SCAD. Today, I have an art business called Tempted by Design which includes photography and services like creative direction, retouching, and art consultation. Meanwhile, I design and direct for my fashion brand, “Retaliation”.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
To get to this point definitely wasn’t a smooth road. Growing up, school was always quite a challenge for me. I’d always be focused on what I thought was the bigger picture as far as me and my art, and contemplating if school was necessary. The battle between my outside life versus work/school weighed heavy on me every day. Plus being an African American male is a struggle in itself, and there were times that I’ve felt disrespected and out of place in certain professional settings. I’ve learned to be prideful in who I am, it’s a positive thing to be well-rounded in all aspects, and that learning more will never hurt.
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 like a sense of rebellion in my art and that’s what sets me apart from others. I specialize in fashion photography and design. My photo projects range from fashion editorial targeted works to commercial studio photography. I’m known for my high flash photo aesthetic and candid shots around the Atlanta Area. As far as fashion, I’m known for innovative clothing, I like to design things that will make people more open-minded and think. Overall I’d just say I’m an artist and futurist.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I see my industry becoming more acceptant to newer styles of art and putting them out on a bigger scale. Also, seeing things as art that before may have seemed just bland or an object. I believe there will be a big shift in black entrepreneurs as far as what we chose to put out and how we express ourselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drewdaviscreative.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/svmurai.s/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/svmurai_s
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/temptedbydesign/
Image Credits
Drew Davis
