Today we’d like to introduce you to Wesley Clark.
Hi Wesley, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The semi quick version is: Art was always a thing I naturally gravitated to. Didn’t know it could be something “more” until seeing the paintings of my friend’s mother around his house. She had a painting studio and a graphic design space in their home. That was elementary school years – 1st grade. So I grew up seeing that. Years later after graduating Syracuse university (2001) with a BFA in painting, she, Jackie Sealey, would host my first show. Because Art doesn’t have a defined path, I was just painting and showing for about 10 years before realizing (or understanding) the importance of/need for Graduate school as an artist. I got my MFA at The George Washington University. (2012) There my work shifted away from painting and turned more sculptural. Works began to be more dimensional but on the wall, then slowing came onto the floor. I was discovering the enjoyment of different mark from different tools etc. (Building is definitely in the DNA. My grandfather (on my Dad’s side) was a carpenter and built “half” of Freetown, Glen Burnie where much of my family is from. I later found out my other Grandfather (Mom’s Side) would help him on occasion.) Though, internally, I didn’t actually consider myself a sculptor until doing my first bronze in 2019 – even though by then i’d been doing Public Art for the past 4 years. Doing Public Art, the work got bigger: 40 ft wall mounted wood and aluminum murals to 260 ft murals on steel; to 14 10’x10′ concrete circles and 9ft tall glowing lanterns with custom glass artworks.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Smooth road? No! Obstacles? Money and space almost go hand in hand – often not having the money to buy/rent the space you want! Then you can’t make work at the scale you may want to pursue. But also money for materials you want to play with. Fear of putting oneself “out there” stifled me early on I’d say. Much of that being from an introverted nature that I still “fight” against.
Finding your market as an artist is definitely difficult. I find that you need a team of trusted people around you. You absolutely have to be a business person, but having that team helps minimize the otherwise constant shifting between artist brain and businessman!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I like to play, think and learn. So that’s led me to being an interdisciplinary conceptual artist with both a studio and public art practice – covering all the bases of interest for me. I believe I’m known for switching things up. I never wanted to be known for one thing or one style etc. I use to dream of putting on an exhibition that looked like a group show – but it was all my work. I’ve since begun to develop bodies of work/exhibitions that allow for wide arrays of material approaches and disciplines to be employed within a narrative container that links the works. Staying true to my desire to search and discovery new means of expressing myself is what I’m most proud of. Not allowing a market to dictate such. In fact, being a Public Artist plays a huge part in maintaining that discovery process; it allowed me to be more selfish in my studio practice. I’ve never considered what sets me apart from others, but I’m consistently edified in that I don’t see MY work in the work of others. Ie. at art fairs, as I walk around. So I think going back to staying true to my own desires to explore and make work for myself and my immediate circle, helps set me apart from others…
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Finding mentors and networking has never been easy for me. Again – introvert. So going out and meeting and talking to people has never been my thing – and still isn’t. But I do believe staying open to opportunities that come my way, and seeing them through has allowed for natural ways of meeting artists – many turning into homies. So my homies in the game – my peers – have really been the ones to mentor me most often. And that came from consistently making the work and showing the work as much as I could in spaces that I liked etc. But because I didn’t have elder-mentors in the arts coming up, it’s made me be more open to share and mentor younger artists on their journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wesleyclarkart.com
- Instagram: @wesleyclarkart
