so you grew up in pomona? it’s pretty suBurBan out tHere, HuH?
Yeah. I was raised not being able to ride my bike past the light pole.
in one of your paintings, you urBanize it tHougH. you made it a little Bit more urBan.
The reason I did that is because Pomona is supposedly the “shitty area.” But, it isn’t. It’s fine. But growing up there, I couldn’t leave the house basically. That’s where my art comes from.
so you go past tHe ligHt pole in your art? you Had to.
I still don’t. You have to build a certain area, and then take a step forward, look back, and think about it. Then keep going.
so you’re a kid from pomona, and you’re plucked out of tHat environment wHen you went to cal arts, and you felt…?
When I was there, I was a painter. There’s a lot of people that had instructors guiding them to what they should be making—they got lost in that. I have friends that left school and don’t even make art anymore. A lot of my work before had to do with interacting with people. It still is. For me, it was a culture shock moving to Valencia. It was different. I was feeling that people weren’t interacting with each other. Even here in LA. So, I would put masks on, walk around suburban areas, sit around, see how people would react, and I’d photograph it.
talk aBout tHe images your working on now.
I just worked on a show I had in Portland. It was called Give and Take. I’m trying to invert the other work I did with the buildings to make this is more about the people. You’re taking what you are out of where you’re at. It’s also about collecting things as you go along. It’s about collecting piles and having everything on you.
talk a little aBout your very selective use of color.
I’m scared of color. [laughs]
i don’t miss. it doesn’t seem to Be a part of your palette.
Little by little, it’s starting to become more in my work. Colors are complicated to me. But little by little, it’s going to start popping up more. I’m going to start venturing out. For me, everything is about time.
you Have tHese artist like sHepard fairey, or mister cartoon, you’ve got art crews tHat are grown up and a part of tHe corporate world, But tHey’re also very true to tHeir art. is tHat wHere you’re Headed?
I’m guessing. [laughs] I just want to make art. I want to continue making my art, continue growing, continue showing. That’s my goal. Climbing ladders. I think you bring it upon yourself—the things you choose to make and the way you perceive yourself.
