Mario Moore from Detroit to New York
Mario with Joy and Pain
KARDIA: Thanks for sharing your story with Kardia. Let’s start with a big question: What is your greatest duty as an artist to yourself, your artwork and your viewers?
MARIO MOORE: My greatest duty is to stay honest to myself, my work and those viewing it. What I mean by that is that my work must come from an honest place not from a place that is looking to see what is popular in the art world but to make sure the work comes from an earnest place.
K: How did you begin to nourish your creative energy? Did you have creative support growing up as a child?
MM: My mother is an artist as well as a lot of her friends when I was younger. I grew up all around it, surrounded by it. It was a part of me from the beginning.
Ice Cold
Oil on canvas
2019
K: What is your creative process like in your studio? Do you have a specific routine that you follow before creating concepts or pieces?
MM: My process changes depending on what I am working on but a usual day in the studio starts with coffee, answering emails and changing into studio clothes. Then continuing working on a piece or starting something new. My work stems from many different places; my experiences, things I read, films I watch and from there I draw out an idea in my sketchbook and develop the idea from there.
K: Where do you find sources of inspiration in or out of the studio? Do these creative sources find ways to influence your work?
MM: I find influences all over. I think of living life as a sponge, I try to soak up as much information as possible and funnel that into my studio practice. Inspiration is all over, from old art books I have in my library, to my family, to considering the social and political situation we are living in currently.
K: Many of your paintings carry a strong and striking combination of vibrant color work, figurative, relational intensity and symbolism. Specifically, speaking about Several Lifetimes, Garfield, and Clyde Sky High, how did you come across creating the concept of this environmental portrait work? What things did you think about while you were creating these portraits?
MM: The first things I considered while making these works were the people and the personalities of those people within the work. That told me what environment and other choices should be added or left out of a composition. Each of these works started with a conversation with both Garfield and Clyde. We talked about their lives, we talked about my life. Each was an exchange of experiences which allowed me more insight into consider how they wanted to be painted and how I wanted to paint them.
Garfield
Oil on canvas
2019
K: Joy and Pain is an incredibly profound piece that highlights our nation and world’s cultural and societal systems of oppression. How did creating this painting make you feel? How have you seen and experienced the power of art making as a medium to voice these humanitarian issues? How do you see art aiding in activism moving forward for our communities?
MM: Art has always been an actionable engagement. There have been many historical moments where art, whether a book, a poster, a poem has sparked a conversation or an enlightenment that led to some kind of change. The American revolutionary war had been brewing for some time before the spark that ignited it all, which was an engraving created by Paul Revere of “The Bloody Massacre” in Boston. That engraving sparked outrage which led to more support of a revolution against the British. The same can be said with video footage of police killing Black people but art can approach each of these things with a broader view and way into ideas and subjects people would rather not talk about.
Joy and Pain
Oil on linen
2019
K: How has your experience been with your art community in Detroit and New York? Have you found inspiration and support through your school community?
MM: I stay in touch with my art community in Detroit and New York. Especially during these times of social distancing it has helped me creatively to stay engaged with creative people.
K: Where do you see your career developing in the future? Are you working on any new concepts for paintings or drawings?
MM: I am always creating, always making. Whether the making is happening on a piece of paper, canvas or an entire piece is coming together in thought, it is always happening. As far as my career, I’m an artist and I will continue that forever. Where that takes me and my work, I don’t worry about that too much.
Moore in Studio
K: What are some ways that your community can support you as a working artist? What are you hoping to share with your viewers now or in the future?
MM: The best way to support me as an artist is to buy work. And if someone can’t buy a piece of my work then advocate for my work in museums and institutions. The other way to support me as a working artist is to support your own creative spirit. Support an artist you may know locally, research artists and works to find out more about them. Also if you think something may be out of your price range talk to that artist or gallery and talk about a payment plan. I have several shows coming up around the country and soon overseas, so I am excited to share those new pieces with the world once that time comes.