What's shaking cats and kittens? I'm Rob Lee from getting to the truth in this art. And this podcast is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Bazaar. Bazaar is a gift shop for those seeking the strange and unusual. Got morbid curiosity?
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Rob Lee:I am your host, Rob Lee, And today's guest is a Baltimore based figure painter known not only for captivating, but also unconventional in our use of color, texture, and composition. We have Monica Ikeguwu. Welcome to the podcast.
Monica Ikegwu:Hello. Hello. Hello. How's it going?
Rob Lee:It's going great. It's good. I said that with some exuberance.
Monica Ikegwu:Yes.
Rob Lee:So, you know, I always start off. I I gave a very rough I had to trim down what I originally had written because I was like, I'm stumbling over the words in terms of, like, the intro. Mhmm. So I will, invite you to describe what your work is and what your work is all about.
Monica Ikegwu:Okay. So, essentially, I'm an African American portrait painter. So for me, I like, I'm trying to create, like, a diverse view of African American people instead of, like, the standard stereotypical one. So I'll get, like, I'll ask, like, you know, family members or I'll take on volunteers or I'll ask strangers, especially, like, anyone just to, like, again, broadening the spectrum. But, from there, once I ask them, then I let them direct their own pose where they can direct their clothing and they can direct the hair they want.
Monica Ikegwu:They can bring props in. Like, essentially, they create their own image instead of me projecting my ideas onto them. So they have freedom to, like, create their image instead of, having someone decided for them. And then with that, I just take the picture. And with the picture, that's when I work with the piece, and I decide, like, on the colors and the backgrounds.
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Monica Ikegwu:So the colors are mainly, like, monochromatic, which I decided, like, what, like, goes best for their skin tone. You know? Yeah. And then the background, I kinda, like, reference their clothing in order to get, like, the pattern that I put in the background because, people express themselves through the outward appearances. That's what I like to focus on.
Rob Lee:Sure.
Monica Ikegwu:Like, when you don't see someone, you look at them and then the way they dress is how you judge them or how you perceive them. So I'll take elements from their clothing and then I use that, like, in the background space. But essentially, that's it.
Rob Lee:I dig it. And, you know, as I said before, I was gassing up a little bit, but really dig your work. And Thank you.
Monica Ikegwu:Thank you.
Rob Lee:Is is is dope. And, I it's it's interesting of, like, allowing or having the the the the subject direct themselves. Like, this is this is what I wanna do. And I think that resonates through of, like, this is vulnerable and this is comfortable. This is what I'm choosing as opposed to someone saying do this pose and let me capture that and then I'm gonna recreate it.
Rob Lee:And I think it it's easier. Like, for for me, I I did a photo shoot, like, months back, and I don't like taking pictures because I'm 64. And it's like, I don't wanna do my limbs. And and it was just like, it's like, why are you voguing? Like, what is this?
Rob Lee:And I
Monica Ikegwu:know some people do, like, can you pose me? I was like, no. That's not the point. You pose yourself. They're like, I don't know what to do.
Monica Ikegwu:And I was like, go go go. I'm like, yeah.
Rob Lee:I'm gonna eventually do a death drop, and I was like, just just get it. I blew my knee out. Just get it. So what types of art it doesn't necessarily have to be the, the discipline that that you're working in most most regularly, but what types of art, do you identify with most?
Monica Ikegwu:I mean, I do like, like, you know, realism, but more so, like, contemporary artists. Not like I don't really look at, like, the old masters for, like, inspiration, but people that are, like, working now. Like, you have, like, Kerry James Marshall. You have, like, Kende Wiley, the big one. And then you have, like, Amy Sheryl.
Monica Ikegwu:Do you have, I don't wanna pronounce her name. It's Lea Dom well, no. Lynette Lea Dom. I don't know. I can't I can't pronounce it.
Monica Ikegwu:I'm so sorry that I'm butchering her name. But, she creates, like, figurative at work, but it's, like, all from her imagination. But they still like, they have a personality, which is, like, strange, but I like it. But yeah. I like portrait artists, but I also like I grew up with like a graphic design, background in high school.
Monica Ikegwu:So I also like abstract work but like minimalism type stuff where it's, like, designs and, like, patterns. Not too, like, crowded, but, like, very simple. Mhmm. And I'm trying to, like, get into that field. Not, like, complete abstraction, but a little bit abstraction in my work as well.
Monica Ikegwu:It's, like, flat color planes as well. But a little bit of minimalism and then, you know, the straight, like, realistic, portrait painting is what I like the most.
Rob Lee:I dig it. I was about to say, is that a new drop right there? Like, yeah. Moving in this direction. I said, oh, oh, exclusive.
Rob Lee:Spacing more.
Monica Ikegwu:I mean, you know, you can see it. It's like you can see, like, flat plays a color mixed in with the pattern. Yeah. I don't know where it'll go completely, but it's like it's a little shift. It's a little shift.
Rob Lee:And and the thing is, I I think and how so as far as your practice, like, and donate at the level you're at and and maybe this is coming off as weird, but how long have you been been working at your craft to get to the point that you're at now? Because it's, like, I think you're relatively, like, you're in your, like, early twenties. Right?
Monica Ikegwu:I'm 22.
Rob Lee:So so you keep yeah. So I was just
Monica Ikegwu:like Yep.
Rob Lee:Yep. So it's like, yeah. I'm I'm venturing. You know? At 25, I'm gonna be doing this, and at 30, I'm in my blue stage or whatever the thing is.
Rob Lee:So, ultimately, like, where where would you, like, see your what would be a dream project you would wanna be doing in the next, like, 5 to 5 to 10 years or what have you just and and thinking pie in the sky kinda.
Monica Ikegwu:Okay. So I don't know in terms of painting, like, where it'll go from here. I don't know if I'll still be doing the pattern stuff. But a dream project. You know how, like, some artists work with, like, fashion designers?
Rob Lee:Yeah.
Monica Ikegwu:Like, for clothing? That that if I could do that, that'd be nice. I wanna be able to do that. I get my paintings on top of some clothing and then see it run, like, down the runway. That's nice.
Monica Ikegwu:That's a dream project.
Rob Lee:That's that's, like, that's the biggest ego strokes. Like, yeah.
Monica Ikegwu:You say that I Yeah. Yeah.
Rob Lee:I did. That's me. Yeah. That's me. So in visualization, like, I know for me, I, I, I'm not talented.
Rob Lee:I just do podcasts. And I sometimes I get in this spot of in creating and trying to put together a show and put together, like, how this is going to come off and, you know, just that performance piece for people, like, seeing it live when we can get back to that. I find that visualizing it first enables me to be, like, okay, I can at least see it. And it may not it may not be perfect, may not be exactly. It never is, but at least I have a guide to aim for.
Rob Lee:When you're working on a project or when you're considering a project, do you see the finished project before you start? Or is there anything and and is there anything special to get you in that creative mindset?
Monica Ikegwu:Okay. So for me, since I'm working with people and I'm letting them do whatever they want, I can't technically visualize what happens because they can pick a pose that's completely, like, different. And, I've had people, like they will, like, wear fabrics, and they'd be like, oh, I picked this one because I think it would be hard to paint. And I'm like, thank you very much. We're gonna try to work with that.
Monica Ikegwu:But, yeah, they direct the pose, and then I'll take what they give me, and then I have to paint off of that picture. So while I'm painting, I'm kinda, like, on the fly deciding what to do. Yeah. Like, I always paint the figure first, and then the background comes later after I'm done. Like, I look at the figure.
Monica Ikegwu:I'm like, okay. Now what do I do for the background? Like, I know I painted this one painting. And I was trying to render the background, like, with fur, but I could I couldn't paint it for some reason. Like, it wasn't coming out right that that day, and I was like, you know what?
Monica Ikegwu:No. We scratched it. We scratched it out, and we put polka dots. And I was like, yes. That worked better.
Monica Ikegwu:Okay. I mean, it did work in the end, but sometimes it don't always work out because my skill doesn't always work when I want it to.
Rob Lee:That's great. It's like, I didn't cooperate right there. It's like when someone has a superpower. It's like, we'll we'll get there.
Monica Ikegwu:Yeah.
Rob Lee:I I I was thinking I don't know why, like, when you're saying it's like, oh, it's the person. It's like, I would imagine, like, if someone comes to you just being a heel because, like, oh, this is gonna be hard to do. So I I could see because I'm a little bit of a heel. It's like, oh, well, kind of paint you, Rob. Cool.
Rob Lee:Cool. Cool. I have the beard, and then suddenly, it's just, like, clean shaven, and then it's, like, I get a unit put in. I have, like, fake hair put in. It's like, this is the hell is this?
Monica Ikegwu:I'll leave it as your choice if you want to. That's how you want me to paint it? Sure. Let me do it. Sure.
Rob Lee:I had the the wild Thomas James hair, what have you. That's the angle that I'm going for.
Monica Ikegwu:Oh, yes. Perfect.
Rob Lee:So see. So you're drawing some of your inspiration a lot of inspiration from people real people obviously and people in your life. Has there been a real life like situation that was just like all right. I want to at least capture some of the elements here whether it be in some of the color choices or in the background or just, like, what you're thinking as you're as you're working on a project.
Monica Ikegwu:So, like, I do African American portrait show. So there's, like, some elements of, like, black culture that I kinda wanna capture. Mhmm. Like, there's just one piece of my brother. He's like like brushing his hair with, like, the wave brush.
Monica Ikegwu:Yeah. Yeah. That I wanted to capture because, like, the amount of effort that guys put into getting the waves, I get waves too. So I gotta go into the brushing. So capturing that and then, like, profiling it.
Monica Ikegwu:Like, look at it. Like, I think that's important as well. But, yeah, just like small things like that. Stuff that I noticed that, you know, people, you know, take care of themselves, but they aren't really, like, talked about as much.
Rob Lee:I got I've noticed one of the sticks. I was like, I think it's like like baby hair or hair. It's like, alright.
Monica Ikegwu:Yes. The baby hair is too. I do that all the time. Yes. People don't really appreciate it, but, yeah, it's a crafts art.
Rob Lee:It is.
Monica Ikegwu:It is. Yeah.
Rob Lee:I mean, as a person formally with hair, it's like, alright. I envy, I envy I envy. No, but I think it's it's something that definitely just speaks on, like, just just having just having black folks be able to create create stuff because it's like these things can be done really, really, really well because there's a lot of talent, especially here in Baltimore, that it's just like, oh, well, not really. But it's like it is. Let's let's allow it to grow.
Rob Lee:Let's allow it to blossom and let's cultivate it within within the city because I think at the same time with all of this talent that's like birth here and has connections here, people leave. And Yeah. That that's the thing that it it can happen as people grow and so on. But, you know, I think it has to be something that motivates folks to to stay here. So for you, what are what are some of your favorite things about being being an artist with ties to Baltimore?
Rob Lee:Speak on that a bit.
Monica Ikegwu:Okay. So I've been involved in my whole entire life. But, honestly, I think it's just the peep I haven't okay. I can't really say this, but, like, I don't know. I've never been lived anywhere else.
Rob Lee:True.
Monica Ikegwu:So but for me, it's the people here, but I can't really compare because I've never lived anywhere. So I don't know the amount of people anywhere else. But for me, like, the people here are just amazing. Like, people have this, idea that, like, Baltimore is bad. The people are mean or whatever.
Monica Ikegwu:But, honestly, the people here are nice. We get along. I mean, like, they speak their minds. Like, we we don't, like, we don't back down. But the people here are amazing.
Monica Ikegwu:And that's, like, how I've got interested in fortitude capturing. Like, why is it capture people? Because they come in different varieties and they express themselves in different ways, and the personalities are just unique. So for me, it's just the people here. I mean, I don't plan on leaving, to be honest with you.
Monica Ikegwu:I I I wanna stay here.
Rob Lee:Right on. It's it's good to hear that because that's one of the things that comes out of this Like one of the focuses of it, it came out of our former president talking very spicy. And I was like, I
Monica Ikegwu:know, yes,
Rob Lee:I want to disprove this jerk and show that we have talent. We have people here, not just numbers, not just like, hot takes. We have people here and I think in part like what your work is aiming to do is like showing the unique people that you're you're capturing in these portraits or have you and that often gets lost when people out there grandstanding and talking about, oh, this violence here or these bad things. And it's like, that's a person. These are people.
Rob Lee:And it's, like, capture the essence of these people. And that's why I think it's important to have people who are here and who are about it, who have the talent, who wanna be here. It's it's a really important thing. Mhmm. So is there something that you've designed that you're especially proud of?
Monica Ikegwu:Okay. So there is this one painting. It's a self portrait of myself. I do lots of self portraits. Like, I bet you I bet you see them.
Rob Lee:I I I stopped I stopped for a second. I was like, alright. Where does this go? I was like, yeah. It's a portrait of myself.
Rob Lee:I was like, okay.
Monica Ikegwu:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's a one of my all time favorites. This is blue one.
Monica Ikegwu:It's probably, like, a little bit further down on my Instagram page, but it's the one where I would it's like my face, but, like, there's a light casting against it. And, like, I'm wearing, like, a blue puffy jacket, and then the background is a blue puffy jacket as well. I don't know. I really love that piece.
Rob Lee:That's I think I've seen that one. That's
Monica Ikegwu:Yeah.
Rob Lee:That's that's a good one. That's good. Yeah. So now this is this one is off. This is one off is off the page, actually.
Rob Lee:Most prized possession that you have. I'm not going to
Monica Ikegwu:steal it.
Rob Lee:I'm not going to steal it. I always ask people that and it's like, you don't break in my house. I was like, no, no, no. Because, you know, like, some people say, oh, yeah, it was this color pencil I have from, like, elementary school. And I was like, you still have that or something in that that vein.
Rob Lee:Like, for me, like it's super corny, but I have a autographed, like 8 by 10 for one of my favorite wrestlers, and I've got to meet him in person. I was like, oh, this is great. And he he looks at, because he's a Japanese wrestler and he looks at wrestling as his art form and he puts that type of energy and he approaches it in that way. He's like, okay, form but also I need to do this physical component of it and I was just like, oh, wow and reading up on his philosophy and how he goes about life. I was like, I really admire this dude and having his, autograph over there on my wall with some of the accomplishments that I've had.
Rob Lee:It's like, those those things are together intentionally. So that's a prized possession for me.
Monica Ikegwu:Okay. I don't know about the most prized possession. I can't say about the most Okay. Process. I I have one.
Monica Ikegwu:Because I know, because I graduated from my high school, and then I went back because I know the the kids, like, they were younger than me. They have, like, their senior show, so I would always go back there. Yeah. And then there was this one kid, like, he made, like, these pins, like, these homemade pins, and he will, like, give them to people who he, like, inspired him. And, like, he called me and I was like, yeah.
Monica Ikegwu:He was, I wanna give you this because you inspired me. And I was like, oh, really? And then, like but, like, I was like I was like I was touched, and I was like, oh my goodness. And then, like, I showed my mom. I was like, look what he gave me, and she was like, that's a pizza.
Monica Ikegwu:That's like that's like, why are you why are you so excited about that? And I was like, it's the meaning. It doesn't matter what it looks like. It's the meaning behind it. I don't know.
Monica Ikegwu:I still have it here. I just love that. I don't know.
Rob Lee:No. That's that's great. Like, I I have, like, freaking scrapbooks. Like, you know, when we, like, here we have those, like, free papers or what have you. Yeah.
Rob Lee:Every little me being witty and trying to be interesting of just I I for a reason, they would take the things that I would say and put it in the paper. And at one point, my mom was just just like, I've seen each one of these. I'm cutting these out. You ain't robbed when you said this. I was like, alright.
Rob Lee:And then I started following through and doing that same process of collecting my own press clippings because I'm a diva in that way.
Monica Ikegwu:I mean, I do that too. I have, like, a stacks of magazines every time my art is featured. I was like, oh, let me go buy it. Let me go get it. And it's, like, getting bigger and bigger.
Monica Ikegwu:I'm like, okay. Cool.
Rob Lee:I was like, yeah. Have you read about me?
Monica Ikegwu:Yeah.
Rob Lee:So speaking of time and and this is this is a question around, I suppose, like, perseverance and just being undaunted. Speaking of time that you were discouraged and in what ways it may be affected your creativity.
Monica Ikegwu:Okay. So there are times, you know, me being in the art field where I was discouraged from being an artist. Mhmm. They will be like, you know, the, you know, the stereotypical, you know, art doesn't make money. You shouldn't be an artist.
Monica Ikegwu:And I was like, okay. But for me, I have, like, a kinda like a like an I wouldn't say like a like a big head or, like, I'm just really, like, nonchalant about it or, and I'm just like, oh, okay. Whatever. But I've heard that many times. And then also, there was a teacher I remember.
Monica Ikegwu:I'm not gonna drop his name. Where I told him that I wanted to be, like, a known artist before I graduated undergrad. Yeah. And he was like, oh, that would never happen. That would never happen.
Monica Ikegwu:And I was like, He's like, that happens, like, after you leave BUZZ. So don't really, like, try and get there. I mean, but I'm not really known known, but it's higher than what I had expected. And I did that before I did graduate. So I'm like, okay.
Monica Ikegwu:Hats off to myself. But
Rob Lee:That's great.
Monica Ikegwu:Well yeah. I mean, I'm kinda not so loud. Like, if you tell me something, it just makes me wanna, like, I can I can do that? I can do that. I can go against what you just said.
Monica Ikegwu:Yeah. It doesn't really get me, like, depressed. Like, oh, crap. You just said that. I guess I can't do it.
Monica Ikegwu:Like, no. No. No. No. You said that?
Monica Ikegwu:Like, okay. Let me go prove you wrong.
Rob Lee:I I admire that trade. It's like, oh, okay. Cool. I'm gonna do it twice now.
Monica Ikegwu:Yep. Just okay. You think I can't do it? Let me go do it.
Rob Lee:You're so Baltimore. Now this is this is actually kind of breeze through these nonchalant Monica. We've gotten through these. Like, I got one last question. I got one last question.
Monica Ikegwu:Okay. Go ahead.
Rob Lee:And then I'll give you an opportunity to shamelessly plug. We're all about shameless plugs here. So let's not forget that. So this one this one is the a multifaceted one. So if, if you're asking someone to visit Baltimore for a weekend and they need someone to plan out, like, give me some suggestions, itinerary, that kind of thing, What would you tell them to check out and why?
Rob Lee:And and frame it in this term, a place to eat, a place to check out for culture, and a place to, like, hang out like a like a bar or something like that. So what do you what do you have in mind?
Monica Ikegwu:Okay. So me, I've been in Boston my whole entire life, but I don't go out the house that often. I'm a homebody. Like, I I literally I don't leave the house. So I don't even know a lot of places that most people in Baltimore would know.
Monica Ikegwu:I'm not gonna lie.
Rob Lee:That's right.
Monica Ikegwu:I mean, like and I don't even go out to eat. Like, I go I get McDonald's. Like, that's my that's my spot.
Rob Lee:McDonald's over there on Route 4th.
Monica Ikegwu:Yep. Oh, let me see. A place to eat. I mean, if I go out, you can go to Hibachi Grill. That's a buffet place.
Monica Ikegwu:I mean, like, I go there.
Rob Lee:I dig it.
Monica Ikegwu:Yeah. I know. I go to either, like, McDonald's, Hibachi Grill. I mean, Old Country Buffet. I mean, that place is cooled down, but I'm usually, like, buffets or, like, restaurants.
Monica Ikegwu:That's where I go. And then I usually just, like, eat in the house, but I don't go anywhere. You could try, like, the buffet place. You know, try that. That's good.
Monica Ikegwu:Hibachi Grill, I'll say it again. And then, bars, I don't even drink, so I don't I know nothing about that. I'm 22, you know, little child here. And then let me see. A place for culture.
Monica Ikegwu:You can go into the harbor. I mean, I got into the harbor all the time. I mean, like, when I went there last time, you know, you have people singing on the street. You know? You have people, like I like the bikers.
Monica Ikegwu:You know the bikers that just, like, bike around there? Oh my gosh. I love them. Yeah. I love them.
Monica Ikegwu:Even when they're not even in the harbor, like, when you walk in, like, on North Avenue, when you see the bikers, I freaking love them. But, yeah, for culture, I mean, just go to the harbor. You'll see there's tons of people there all that's I don't know. I haven't been there since, like, the corona event happened. It's just still active.
Monica Ikegwu:But before corona, I was really active. You see people tons of people, like, the food there. Yeah. They got food there. You know?
Monica Ikegwu:They got the stands.
Rob Lee:No Hibachi girls there, though. No. I'm kidding.
Monica Ikegwu:No Hibachi girls there. Nope. Nope. They don't have any down there. No.
Rob Lee:That's good.
Monica Ikegwu:But, yeah. I can't really recommend more than that. I I don't really go out that much, which sounds kinda sad, but, you know, all I do is paint.
Rob Lee:I I dig that, though. That's like, yeah. I'm just an artist. A food just just send me some McDonald's, put
Monica Ikegwu:it in my face. Exactly. It's not healthy, but it's he's good.
Rob Lee:I mean, I have talked to people about my college experience at Morgan, and it was always just McDonald's is like, yo, 2 double cheeseburgers, 2 pies, and, like, a sweet tea. Let the diabetes come. And it was just like, how did you eat that? I was like, oh, that was good.
Monica Ikegwu:It was good. Exactly. I was
Rob Lee:in college. Uh-huh. So, before we wrap up, I'm gonna give you the opportunity because this is all about, at least one of the major things for this podcast is to bring attention and try to amplify and just provide another platform to put your work out there and put your yourself out there as a as a creator here locally. So, shameless plugs, where are you at? Where can he find you?
Rob Lee:Any projects coming up? Things like that.
Monica Ikegwu:Okay. So for me, I work with 2 galleries right now. 1 is called Band Devices. 1 is in Los Angeles. You can check them out.
Monica Ikegwu:And then, I work at 1 here in Baltimore. It's called Gallery Martise. You can go and check them out. And then for any updates about what I'm doing or what I will do, you can always head over to my Instagram, which is Monica, m I m o n I c a. I almost put my name wrong.
Rob Lee:In my name?
Monica Ikegwu:M o n I c a 165. Monica 165. And then, yeah, you can go to my Instagram, and then check out whatever you want. All my stuff is there. And then my website is also linked, in my bio on my Instagram.
Monica Ikegwu:But, essentially, that's it. Yeah.
Rob Lee:So thank you. Thank you so much. I'll do my side enough. So for Monica Ikegu, I am Rob Leese, and it is art in and around Baltimore. You just gotta look for it.
