#6 – How Do Family Photos Become Museum Paintings? | Jerrell Gibbs

And welcome back to the Truth in Us Art. I am your host, Rob Lee. Thank you for joining me for my conversations that matter, conversations at the intersection of arts, culture, and community. Today, we're running it back, and I'm welcoming back my next guest, an internationally renowned painter whose work explores the complexities of life through deeply personal and universal experiences. His evocative art highlights joy, beauty, and even the mundane, drawing from family archives and everyday moments to recreate emotional sensations we all share.

Please welcome back to the program, Jerrell Gibbs. Welcome back.

Yeah, man. Absolutely. It's a blessing to be back. Thanks, for the opportunity. My name is Jerrell Gibbs.

I'm an artist, specifically a painter, god fearing man, husband, father, 2 beautiful young girls. And that's me, you know, family man. Just enjoy the day to day process of experiencing life with my family, loved ones, and friends. But, yeah, like, right now, we just had, a second daughter scheduled December. She was born thank you.

She was born, December 11th. And, you know, that's that's been a process. We have a 14 year old that turns 15 in a few months. So, you know, you figure 14 year gap. So we kinda like learning this thing all over again.

So, it's been a it's been a big change in our routine, but it's been a blessing. So we're going through that. And, in the midst of that, I'm preparing for my, next solo show, which will be, at Gallery Martis here in Baltimore on March 22nd, and also preparing for, 2 solo museum shows. 1 in September of this year and the next in, in the fall of 2026. So busy in my profession, busy in my personal life, and I mean, just blessed, man.

Just all around blessed.

That's that's great, man. Like, I I I don't have any kids. Right? But I've been around it. Like, oh, like, my brother, he has that same sort of gap.

He has a 1 year old, and his son is about

to charge 16. Wow. Okay.

And he's like, I got a girl. Yeah. I don't wanna mess her up. It's like, you got it, man. You're around.

And he's like, it's easy for you to say, all you have is a podcast. I'm like, I was like, this is my baby, though.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

He But it it's it's definitely, you know, kind of, like, relearning, and it's, like, going back, I would imagine. It's, like, alright. What are we doing here?

Right. Right.

Things are different. They got different batteries now. You know, the babies, they they ran a little bit longer now.

Yeah, man. It's a lot. A lot has changed in what seems to be a short period of time, you know. But, you know, we we we're adjusting and doing the best that we can, you know, pretty much the same as we did with the first one.

And and I like that, you know, as I go through and and and look at some of your your work in the the year since we talked and even, you know, going back to, like, the the the first interview, it's always this sort of, like, personal, like, referential element to your your work, what have you. And I think, you know, just living life and experiencing it, it gives you these different perspectives you wanna capture and so on.

Yeah, man. A 100%. That's what my work is about, just taking the time to reflect upon my life experiences and documenting that, you know, in whatever way I can and, just being true to my experience. You know, I think what I go through, what I experience, what my family goes through and experience with the people that I love, go through and experience, I think it's worth sharing. I think, there's value in our stories.

And, I just wanna do the best that I can to, represent that.

Yeah. So talk a bit about, you know, since sort of, like, how your perspective has has changed perhaps over the last few years, especially with sort of new beginnings and new experiences. And and I say that almost selfishly. And I would hope that I become a better interviewer over the these years and sort of the things that I'm curious about and the insights that I wanna draw out of the guest are a bit different than maybe when I started. So speak about that as relates to maybe the themes you explore and how you go about your work nowadays.

Yeah. I think in the past, you know, it was a it's a journey, you know, and that's just life in general. And I think when you really, for me specifically

True.

I've taken, the chance to really go more insular and to go further within myself to kinda find out where I wanted to go moving forward, if that makes sense. So, you know, over the years as an artist, I started out, paying attention to what was going on around me and kinda responding and reflecting on that. And, you know, the longer I've been doing what I've done, the more it makes sense to me that what I bring to the table is right here. You know what I mean? It's right here within me, right here within my home, right here within my community and my family.

And I really don't have to go out to these other places to comment on things unless I choose to, you know. What we experience on a day to day is is is more than enough, you know. I don't have to go searching for for things that aren't a part of my reality or a part of my day to day. You know? I'm not saying that we don't enjoy traveling as a family.

I don't get involved in other things outside of my community and my culture. That's not true. But, I I'm just more aware of, the value within myself. You know, I'm more I'm more, comfortable with who I am and the story that I have to tell and the story that Jarrell Gibbs can tell and nobody else can tell. You know?

That's that's the uniqueness. And thank you for sharing that that that all of that, but that last piece definitely sticks out because in a world where we're getting this fugazi stuff, we're getting AI stuff. And, you know, when I was embarking upon doing this season and planning it out, I was like, who do I wanna talk to? I wanted to go back to some of the earlier guests to see you know, sort of catch up, really, because we do have this habit of, you know, moving on. And so and my thing is what you know, I always get all this feedback especially when more and more folks are aware of what I do and, you know, sort of who I interview and so on.

And they're like, how do you get this guest? I was like, I don't know. I'm just being me. It's a big value proposition, I suppose. And, you know, and and I even go back and look at how I'm gonna tackle this.

I'm not trying to do a version of someone else's podcast. I'm trying to do everything and not even looking at it as a podcast because that term has become a bit deprecated over the The past 5 years.

Oh my god. I got rid

of it. Almost. Yeah. I look at it almost like a a living archive and and sharing the importance of it and the value, if not responsibility, of helping folks share their story on the Right. Framework that I'm providing here.

And this podcast is is very personal to me. And sort of being able to connect with folks is very personal to me. That's that's a that's a big piece of it. So in terms of the the stories, how do you go through and like think about like, I guess the ideation of, okay, I want to paint this, I'm going to cover this as a arc. I'm compelled to cover this work and going deep.

How, you know, how far do you know that you've gone deep enough on a particular sort of like subject or theme or, you know, you want to maybe revisit that things of that nature? Like, how do you go through that process of thinking? What are the stories that you want to present in your work?

Yeah. So what has been consistent throughout my practice has been the use of photography as, like, the source for, the the paintings. And what the photos do for me is take me back to my childhood or take me back to experiences that I've had that I can kinda relive and access because the paintings are personal, and my best works are of experiences that I've had. So I'm I'm really I'm really aware of that now. At one point in my career, I wasn't.

Now I am. You know? And that just comes with experience. So I'm more mature in that way. I look through these my photo albums.

I'm constantly looking through those photos. I can look in I'm still looking at the same photo albums I've been looking at for about 6, 7 years and finding new material even though I've seen the image already. You know?

Yeah. But it

takes me back to these moments, and, as of lately, I've been really, spending a lot of time paying attention to the subtle nuances of the photos beyond just the figures and the people in them, but, like, what was important or specific about the environment, the domestic space? What was important? For example, like, let me just throw in an example. Like, I'm thinking about this painting that I plan on doing in the future. The photo that I've looked at is of me when I was probably, like, 12 or 13, and I'm holding some fish as catfish in a plate.

And I'm looking at that image and, you know, it's just a regular image, but it made me think about that moment that happened. And then it made me think about, okay, like, what did my people do in order to prepare a catfish? You know, like, what were the ingredients that we used to make catfish? You know what I mean? Like, whether it's adding the hot sauce, using the mustard to cut down the fishy, you know what I mean?

The fishy kind of flavor, the type of, or meal used, you know, the, like, batter it or whatever. Like, all of those ingredients, I'm thinking about that I've had a personal relationship and experience to, and I want to portray that. And that wasn't always the case. You know. Like, I was at one point in my career, I just wasn't thinking like that.

But now I have the opportunity, because I've been repeatedly going through the same process for so long, I'm starting to understand on a deeper level how the little details are really where it's at for me.

Yeah. So I you know, I'd be remiss if I didn't ask. What what what kind of hot sauce is it, man? I'm I'm a hot sauce connoisseur, so

You actually asked me this before. I think on the first interview we did, I remember you asking something like I think he was like you asked me what's on the chicken box, and obviously, it's ketchup.

It's just

something ketchup and hot

sauce. But,

do we have, we we love Tabasco.

Okay.

We love the Tabasco sauce, hot sauce. And, what's the other one, sweeteners? The bread? No. The hot sauce.

Can't think of the brain right now. Definitely, tobot is this Frank? No. Frank's. It's Frank's.

Yes. There it is. Preston. So Crystal's half size. Yes.

The reason I asked because your your description of kinda, like, looking at the nuances right Mhmm. Made me in my mind's eye think of this picture when I was a kid. So two things. One, my first solid food as a baby and I don't like chicken wings. I don't like chicken.

I don't like chicken wings or anything.

Gotcha.

Was a chicken leg because it was smothered in crystal's red hot sauce. Oh. Yeah. So that's why I asked that question. People think I'm just trolling, but there's nothing to my madness.

Right. Krystal's hot sauce is through the community, man. Like, that's that's the hot sauce right there.

It is. And and the other thing I'll share, this is a little bit more aligned. Mhmm. There's a picture, and I think that there are, like, several things. You know, usually, it's pop culture.

Sometimes, it's these other communal things that are time capsules.

I

think food is a time capsule. I think, sort of music. I think different things could be time capsules pictures, obviously. And one that comes to mind is this picture. I always wear like quarter zips and hats as I'm currently wearing now.

There's a picture when I was maybe 7. I think it was like security mall or something. Right? Really setting the stage, and I'm wearing sort of this kind of setup. Right?

Right. My glasses are enormous. I have this giant cup from Wendy's.

Okay.

The biggie cup. Yeah. Yeah. So it just really took me back, and I see that image and all those stuff around me because I experienced it. But I'm seeing all of the images around me and just how big the smile was on my face as a kid.

Mhmm. I still see that that that kid in in my mind's eye, I suppose.

Yeah, man. Absolutely. Good times. Just reflecting on those. It's it's beautiful.

You know? It it just makes you appreciate, I also, I think, like, the older I get, the more I appreciate through looking through these photo ops and stuff. I appreciate my past more, and it makes me want to, be that much more locked into my present. Because 5 years from now, I'm I'm gonna look back like, man, I miss those times. I miss those days of 2025 or 2024.

You know what I mean? Even though you go through your go throughs in every year or whatever, I talk to to I talk to my wife about this all the time. Like, well, we both talk about it. Like, how we reflect on the past and things may have been a challenge or it could have been tough years for us or whatever. But we always talk about, like, the the joys of those years and those moments, you know.

And, like, man, like, if we could only go back and know how good it was at the time you know, like, I'm at a point now where I don't want that to be my story. I wanna really be, committed to the present and understand and appreciate the opportunity that I had.

Thank you. No. That's that's that's a really good point. It's a good perspective as well. So I'm gonna move into this this next question.

Because I always like to talk about the IRL sort of situations. Right? So, yeah, we we briefly maybe seen each other in a few different places, but the one that sticks out is the last resort artist retreat. It was just like, oh, I was invited. I was like, oh, I I know him.

I was like, he's a little short than I was expecting. You know? Yeah. No shots.

No shots.

No. It's all

good. It's all good.

It is what it is. But it's it's refreshing for me to be able to meet people in the first time because, generally, what I'm doing is is this. There is an Internet connection between us. Right? And I think the face to face or even as far as that setup was those years ago was you're breaking bread with people, some people that I booked for interviews afterwards and connected with afterwards, some people that, you know, I'd already had some, you know, sort of awareness of and connection to.

So being that, you know, there are always this sort of the personal stories within your work, could you speak on the importance of that community aspect, being around sort of artists, being in those hubs? And like, why is it just really important to connect in that way? Because, you know, you have your family. Obviously, that's a really integral, like, anchoring piece. Mhmm.

But also, like, the art world can be lonely at times too.

Oh, yeah.

Being in and so on. So being around other creative folks, other artistic folks to commiserate, to trade notes and or just have fellowship.

Right. Yeah. More than anything, it's refreshing for me. You know, sometimes, you know, your day to day can become monotonous. And I think, for me, what works is, me getting out and doing the things with people who are like minded and artists, obviously, you know, fit into that category for me.

And when I'm around other artists after I haven't been for a while, it's always, like, super refreshing. And it gets me more excited to get back and get to what I do, you know, hearing the stories, hearing the things that they're doing, ideas. I don't know. And and the artist just have we we just have, like, different energy, you know? And when you're around us, you can kinda pick up on that.

And, I don't it just recharges me, man. It gets me excited. When I'm surrounded by people who think like me for the most part, and, there's just a lot of, ideas going around. There's a lot of good positive energy going around, especially in Baltimore, like, where I am. Yeah.

Our community is very we're not, like, tight knit to the point where you can't get in. But we're tight knit enough to where as though, like, we care about each other. And we'll, like, collectively get together and do things. And we're sharing ideas, and we're sharing, connections, and we're bigging up each other. You know what I mean?

We're celebrating each other. Like, that feels good. You know? It's a sense of community. And, I think that's important, and it's it's really important for me.

Yeah. It's it's it's super important in in doing this, you know, for over 800 episodes at this point. And

just congratulations.

Thank you. It's it's a lot, man. And really, that's the driver as I was sharing with you before we got started. Like, there was a little bit of a roadblock, but the train keeps going. The bus keeps going.

I'm not a not a car. I'm a bus. I'm a larger guy. So it keeps rolling. But sort of that intent there is to to build and to be around sort of those those like minded people.

So again, when I was going through the curation or the selection process of who I wanted to chat with, it's like, alright. Who do I wanna revisit? But, also, who do I think has that energy that matches? Because there's folks that I've talked to. I'm like, I don't know if there's gonna be a reinterview.

I think we're set. I think we're good here. There's There's others. It's like, yeah, we need to get a coffee or beer or whatever Yeah. Is to to keep it rolling.

Right. Right.

I can dig it. Indeed.

So I got a I got a couple more I wanna I wanna hit you with, and we're gonna talk about, specific work in a moment, but definitely wanna get the some insight around it. And I think you've touched on it a little bit, but I'm going to ask it directly. You know, as an artist navigating the contemporary art world, right, how do you maintain sort of the and I'm using, for lack of a better term, like integrity and stay true to your vision? You touched on earlier, there's only, you know, sort of with you and your perspective, that's just the thing that makes you separate. But how do you navigate that while the complexities of sort of the market I hear from folks all the time and selling the way it used to or the opportunities aren't as as rich as they were.

How do you navigate that while, like, kind of being you and sticking with the work and sticking to, you know, your guns as it were?

Yeah. I think we all go through that. I think that's just a part of the experience of doing what we do as artists. Yeah. But what has been working for me is, again, understanding my value and my story and I've been knowing that nobody can tell the story that I'm telling because it's my life.

You get what I'm saying?

Yeah.

And you can't find another Jarrell Gibbs no matter if you it don't matter how hard you try. You know? So there's there's value in that. And I think when you really understand that, you you kinda tap into it. And that is that gives you your confidence, you know, in terms of, like, making adjustments and pivoting for, like, the market and whatever it is that's that that happens.

Those those things are always gonna fluctuate. You know what I mean? But staying consistent and staying true to yourself is where you need to have your foundation. You know, you gotta be rooted in that. And for I had to learn that, though.

You know, it wasn't like I always knew that. There was moments where I felt like I had to do things because it was the thing that was happening at the moment. Yeah. Or just like the comparison thing, you know, looking on social media and comparing yourself to this, that, and this person, that person, and the next person. But through that, I got to the point where I was confident enough within myself, knowing that, again, my story is my story.

Can't nobody tell it like me. And, understanding that no matter what's going on in the market or who's buying and who's not, I got into this to tell my story in the first place, minus people weren't buying it back then. You know what I mean? And I was doing it. Yeah.

So why would I change it now? You know what I mean? Yeah. And that has gotten me to where I am by the grace of God, guiding me and putting the right people in my life. It's come because I'm telling my story.

Yeah. And all of, you know, like, I wasn't my success hasn't come from telling somebody else's story or being somebody else's. It's come from the story of my life and my experiences and the people that God has put in my life to help me kinda, magnify that.

It's really good. It's really, really enlightening. Like, you know, as as I was touching earlier, it's always sort of, oh, you do just this or you do it. It's like, no. Let's not make it smaller.

You know? And I I was like, when I look at doing this, I was already doing this. You know, I'd already been doing a podcast and so on. And I find, it and maybe it's true across multiple areas, but I find there's sort of a pendulum, right,

where Mhmm.

It's just like, man, this is really popping right now. Mhmm. And this other thing that isn't just popping. Well, it's gonna go back over there eventually. That's just the nature of things.

Exactly. Exactly. And if you if you aren't, like, rooted in yourself, you're gonna be just like that pendulum. And then it's like nobody knows who you are. You don't know who you are.

You're not consistent. Like, how can you live like that? You know, like, how how can you have any longevity or sustainability when you're all over the place and back and forth like that?

Like, I

don't even wanna be involved with nobody like that, to be honest with you, on a personal level. Artist wise, anything because it's like, who am I getting? You know, like, I don't even know you. Do you know you?

Yeah. I I I see, you know, folks just kinda, like, switch it up. They're they're doing this type of podcast or they're doing this type of art or they're interested in this, and it's not a matter of telling someone what they should or shouldn't do. But I think sort of when you have these really wild swings, it's it's like what are you really standing on? What what are you rooting in?

And, you know, I see that happen all the time here. Like, folks tell me you should jump and do video, and it's an assumption that I don't know my own industry. Mhmm. It's just like, sure. You know what cost me this much.

Right? You know, these are some of the other things that are considerations. Oh, really? Yes. Because I do this and I know what I'm talking about.

Whereas, we're doing this right now. Put it in this context. You have a real life. I have a real life. Right?

We're able to get this because we have this technology. We have an agreed upon time. We figured it out and made it happen.

But it

was a booking, a studio and all of this different stuff. It would be just sort of pandemonium. And it's just like, yeah, this is blown out and maybe it gets there. But I'm really curious and interested in the isness of it. Can this happen?

The conversation is paramount to me. Mhmm. How it's presented, how I'm serving up this conversation, we we get there and I make those improvements. But at the root of it, it's still the same thing, but just like refined and polished.

Absolutely. You're an artist.

Somebody isolate that, please. I get I get the fly. I got chills.

So let let's move a

little bit into, some some specific works. You know, I'm I'm reading about I read a little bit about and I checked out some of the visuals, last year. You debuted Language of Tears and the, what is it, James Cohen?

Mhmm. Yeah.

A gallery, marking your first solo exhibition in in New York.

Yes. Absolutely. Praise god.

How was that experience? And, you know, any any key takeaways that that come by? And what are some of the, you know, the themes within that work?

Key takeaways, because New York is a beast. You know, like, I'm just naturally, I'm always, anxious about New York. I don't know what it is, you know, just like going, being there. Once I'm there and I get settled, I'm good. But just like the thought of New York just always raises my anxiety for some reason.

I think, the the idea and the context of the show was me reflecting on my, my relationship with my father, his death, and how it impacted me growing up and even to this day and, really taking the time to navigate the emotions and kinda to to really, dig into who I became based on what happened, if that makes sense. It was the first time that I created an entire show about that, and and and that's what that's what I got out of it.

Oh, wow. I mean, you know, again, the the the personal element, like, I I was, you know, thinking a moment ago. One of my, one of my friends, they, they lost their mom this week. And, you know, I just I just had a birthday, you know, recently. So just age is, like, on my mind.

I'm like, my parents, like, 60 70 and sort of thinking about as I get older, obviously thinking about my relationship with them and how it matures and it changes and being very fortunate that both of my parents are still here and valuing and cherishing that. And then also kind of thinking about like, you know, if they weren't here at a point, how would I what would I be doing? How would I be? What would my perspective be? Yeah.

How would that, you know, maybe I don't know. It's but so exploring that is is a real thing and seeing how it shapes and impacts you. And, you know, the one of the things that comes to mind for me is, you know, I think I was I don't think I've ever said this on this podcast. I was, in senior year, maybe maybe 2nd semester, junior year in college, and my grandmother had not seen any of her relative graduate from college.

Okay.

She passed in that she she passed in SMS. I was like Wow. You know, I was just feeling like always kinda like this was a thing that Right. I felt like some some guilt for it. And in terms of the creative and artistic thing, like my parents were all my family was always supportive, parents, uncles and so on.

But in my, in my closet, my in my studio, I have a bag that my grandma's like a seamstress and I have a bag that takes my dad's old, like, Vietnam military duffel in this, like, attache sort of, like, bag that you would put, like, you maybe, you know, books and then, sort of your, paintbrushes and so on in. Right. Because I'm really into, like, illustration then. Mhmm. She took elements from his thing and elements from that and made it together, and she was always pushing.

You keep drawing, then you keep drawing. Wow. Having, you know, trying to do that and finish that, I think about that. It was, yeah, it's almost 20 years ago now. But definitely, it was a it was an impact because, you know, it's like I'm getting close and this would be really cool because she was at the high school graduation and thinking about the the the college one.

I was like, no, I'm going to, you know, make her proud or have you. She'll be able to see this and. Right, right. You know, and it wasn't for like art or anything, but it was just like kind of one of those things that you're trying to do. So I that definitely was something that affected me and makes me, you know, even now still kind of think about, like, alright.

You put forth your best that's that's definitely, you know, doing something creative. Right.

Are

you falling into something? And that in part comes from from her.

Isn't it amazing, you know, like, how we subconsciously make decisions today based on, like, something from so long ago. You know, you like you said, that was 20 years ago. Yeah. My father my father was killed when I was 7. You know, I turned 36 this year.

And I'm I'm just I'm sorry?

I'm 37.

Oh, lord. I turned 30 7 this year. Look at that.

To say the same thing, actually.

I turned 37 this year. I'm thinking I'm turning 36. And, you know, I'm still I'm still growing from that. You know? I'm still minding that and still exploring it and and finding out ways that it has impacted me in the past and looking to make changes, or just accepting some things about myself based on what happened.

You know? But yeah, man. Just I was also thinking about fatherhood. You know? I think I had just found out well, what's funny is I started working on that show in March of 24, and the show opened in May.

Mhmm. And I found out that we were gonna have a second daughter maybe in April. Yeah. So fatherhood, again, was at at at the the forefront of my mind and thinking about him and thinking about what his relationship and how he felt about being a father and maybe a lot a lot of the questions and conversations that we never had, you know, thinking about what it would mean for me to have certain conversations with my kids, you know, and the opportunity that he never had, you know. So I don't know.

I was just thinking a lot about, what it means to be a father, what it meant for me to lose him at such a young age, how it's impacted me past, present, and future, and, you know, the pivots that I'll make because of it.

Thank you. That's that's great to have that added added context there. And, you know, I always like to say it's like, you know, you watch something like you might get the fictionalized version, you might get the actual, like, almost documentary version. I think that full 360 is like, not only are am I aware of the work, but also I'm hearing it directly from the artist. And it's like, you know, this is what I was thinking when I was bringing this together.

And this is also what I had that morning to when I was conceptualizing.

I love it.

So I wanna move into sort of upcoming work. You you touched on you you you served it up a little bit. It's called called a tease in the radio industry. You teased it a little bit, some some upcoming work. So please tell us about, I I see no solace in the shade, and I you mentioned, Gallery Martise as well.

So talk a bit about, you know, what's coming up in the the next year or year plus at this point.

Yeah. A lot. I have, 4 shows that I know, for certain that'll take place within, the next 2 years. 3 this year, 1 so far for next year. I have the, show opening at Gallery Martise again on March 22nd.

The title for that show will be, fearfully and wonderfully made, and it's based on a personal experience I had with my daughter. She's been dancing since she's, like, 4. She's 14 now going on 15. She's way beyond the 10000 hours. You know what I mean?

And thinking about how, you know, one experience could have potentially shattered her whole dance experience because of biases and prejudice that have been perpetuated through, ballet culture

Yes.

Way before we were here and that are still dominating and present in today's society. You know what I mean? And and dance world. Right? So I'm thinking, thinking a lot about that, and the works will, reflect that.

So that's for March. That's for the show there. My show, No Salas in the Shade at the Brandywine Brandywine Museum, which will be in September. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm jumping jumping further down the line.

I also have a solo show opening in June at Dowling Walls Gallery, which is in Maine. I I think I have the title for it. I'm not gonna say it on here. I just wanna solidify the idea. Sure.

But I know for a fact since the show take place in June and since it'll be in Maine, I have this very very specific experience with Maine. You know, like, every time not every time, because I've been there in the in the winter too, but it was a completely different experience. But when we go in the spring and summer, oh, man, it just it makes me feel good about summer, you know. And it's not like a Baltimore summer. It's just it's a Maine summer, but it it it's refreshing.

Right?

Yeah.

So it makes me want to paint about summer, and that's what the work will be about. You know? It'll be about my experiences of summer in Baltimore, what we do, you know, as a family, how we come together in the backyard, eat crabs. You know what I mean? Cook out on a grill, all of that good stuff.

So that's that's what the show will be about that, that, will be presented in Maine at Dial and Wash Gallery. Again, that'll be in June of this year. And, my first solo museum show will be at, the Brandywine Museum of Art in Chazewell, PA, and that's in September. The title for that is No Silence in the Shade, And, that'll be more, like, retrospective ish. You know?

It's not quite a retrospective, but it'll be, like, works from 2,000 let's say, 2017 up until 24. So, man, I'm I'm super excited. 26, I have my, solo show with the Baltimore Museum of Art. I haven't got the title yet for that, but I know exactly what I'll be, painting about and creating art around. It it's not gonna be just painting, so that'll be exciting for me to kinda step into a new space.

I'm super excited about it, but I'm trying to focus on everything that I got coming up before.

That's that's great. It's, you know, big year. And we gotta do the 3 peat, man, when, the BMA show. We gotta have you back on. Just talk I'm

all for it. I'm all for it. I love you know, I can do this all day.

But but, man, I I definitely am just in awe of just the consistency, the you know, you got 3 shows. You're like, oh, I got this one that's coming up as well. Like, my man's always skipping shows, and it's like, oh, let me go back to that point.

God is good, man. God is good. I'm telling you, stuff just be falling in my lap, and it's not anything that I'm doing. I promise you that.

But, I mean, you're but you're prepared for it. So you you are you are then you're prepared for

it. Absolutely. Yeah. So

I got one more real question. Mhmm. And, then I got those rapid fire questions. But the last real question, you know, I find when I have these conversations in the community, I have a have a few fans out there. Not many.

It's like 3 people. For this podcast, I don't have any fans. But, you you do a wonderful job, like, capturing, like, personal memories and sharing is a is a sort of almost, an alchemistic sort of, like, line to it. Right? It's like, this is a memory now.

Here it is for you. Mhmm. For for younger artists starting out, what advice would you give them with the importance of incorporating sort of, like, personal experiences and finding their their own unique voice? You you were touching on sort of there's only one you. Yes.

So, you know, a young artist would would probably benefit from hearing sort of your insights around that of just kinda staying true.

Yeah, man. I mean, it's important. Your story is your story. You know? Like, nobody else can tell it like you.

And, again, the reason that you're doing what you're doing is because you're talking or expressing you. So stick to that. My most successful, you know, like, I think everything is a learning experience and an opportunity to kinda gauge where you are. But I would say my most successful works and by success, I I'm not talking about monetary or what other people think. The works that I'm most satisfied and happy with are the works that are personal.

You know what I mean? And I feel the most there's nothing like leaving the studio and feeling content and comfortable and confident with the work that you created. That experience far out, far exceeds any type of wire that's that's coming through, any type of show, any of that. When I leave the studio and I've created exactly what it is that I felt and experienced and I can share it with other people, I'm at my best and I feel my best. If I make a work and it sells, but I don't really like the work, I don't feel, like, fully there.

You know? Like, I'm not whole with it. You know? So my advice would be to just continue to pay attention to your voice and understand that what it is that you're you're creating matters. And you don't you weren't created to be someone else.

You were created to be yourself. You weren't created to tell someone else's story. You were made to tell your story. Alright? Your story is your story and and tap into that.

It's really good. It's a really good piece to close on. Thank you for that. That's one that sticks even with the I'm 40 now. So even with a an older person in this lane, I guess, but it's just it's really good to hear, and I think just hearing it from someone who's who's doing it.

You know? It's it's great. Yeah. I don't take advice from people who ain't doing it. I would imagine a lot of folks ain't doing it right now.

So

I'll write it with you.

So I got, like, 3 rapid fire questions for you. No need to overthink these, you know, just to leverage the first thing that comes to mind. Shoot. Alright. Here's the first one.

Which profession would you switch to if you lost your artistic ability? Like, right now, you're all the art's taken out of you, like space junk. We took Yep. Your real secret stuff.

Yeah. College football coach.

That's amazing. Yeah. I you you ain't hitting a gap hard enough. Exactly. Not here with the x's nose.

Slow too, fast through, baby.

I I I did this interview with, David Facule. It it I I was, like, on this sort of weight loss thing, and he was talking. I was like, yeah. I'll weigh about this. He was like, I'll weigh about this.

I was like, yeah. We both on the defensive line. Right? Off the edge. I think you can I think you can stop the run like a MF?

I think you got it. Yeah. You

gotta be a dog to stop the run, though. It ain't just about the size, you know? Yeah. I've I've seen some big some very large people that just don't have no dog.

I I I think he has it. I think he has it. I'm not a I'm not an interior guy. I'm an extra I'm just, like, look, I'm gonna finesse around you. I'm gonna have the wife ringy.

I'm gonna spit off of you. Yeah. Uh-huh. Yeah. I'm an old cult.

So aside from, like, your your work. Right? What other creative interests or talented talents do you have that you're like, maybe if I I pivot here, maybe this is another area that I can explore. You know how to juggle? You know, do you like look.

I know how to do this culinary thing. Mhmm. What's the other, like, creative or or or talent that you have?

Man, I have a lot of talents, bro. I'm, like, not even trying to keep my own. It's weird. Anything I really take time to focus on, I can really get pretty good at. I'll I'll say this.

I'll throw a loop. I'll kinda do the opposite of your question, if that's okay. Please. Something that because, like like I said, like, if I get really into something, I can really get good at it. The one thing that I have been struggling with for a long time is writing.

Good.

I have the hardest time, like, writing. Not writing a paragraph or a sentence, but creatively writing.

Sure.

So that's something that I would love to do. I would love to be able to, write in a way that I feel comfortable and confident in. That makes sense.

Yeah. I mean, let's let's let's add it to the list. Next time we do, you know, we do the part 3, it's like, you know, as an exquisite writer, you know, Robert, I'm here talking about my writing. You know, I've got these 3 books. I was like, yeah.

Hey, look, man. I'm I'm I'm telling you, like, I have tried everything, and it just don't click for the kid. Like, again, I can write a paragraph. I can send an email back, and I'm getting better, but it's at for my taste, it's taken way too long. So it it got me thinking, like, wow.

I can do this, that, and the 3rd, but this one thing has been such a challenge for me. I'll say this also. I guess I I don't know. I love sports. So baseball will be another thing.

I'm I'm I'm really good at baseball, low key. And, yeah, that's something that I'm, that I would probably do as well.

I'm I'm a I'm a big baseball fan. I've worked 4 years with the Orioles and their event staff. So, you know, I always look at baseball.

And it's like If, hey, if they need somebody out there to to lose a game as a pitcher for them, that will cost them so much less more money. If they wanna pay me 500,000 to a $1,000,000 to lose a game as a pitcher, I'll let your boy. Look. They can save money and build a roster. You feel me?

And then when it's time to cut me, they can let me go. But at least they build that roster, and they got somebody they know is gonna lose the game for them.

Look. They can bring me in, at least minimum. Right? It's just like, I look like I have like, I'm 64. I look like I got, you know, some talent.

There is none. You know, Gasolina will be playing. I'll I'll put on a unit. I'll act like I'm Dominican. And then we we got it.

We but he did. You know? So that that's come on. You know? Oh, just hit me up.

You know?

You still me? Hey. Look. I give them the I give them everything I got.

Yeah. That's 81 out of the park.

Oh, the good day.

Really? What a good day. Oh, here here's the last one I got for you. I like to get a little provocative sometimes. So what is one belief that you hold about art or creativity that many people might consider controversial?

Everything that you create ain't good. Oh, another one. Everything that I see in a museum is not good.

Look. You're not wrong.

Just because it just because I'll okay. Just because it's in a museum doesn't mean it's good. That's that's that's what I'll say.

I'll I'll share this, and that's a great observation. And we will get ready to wrap up here, but I'll share this. I may have been at a museum. I may have been in a sort of like I was with the partners with the girl for girlfriend. I was just like, you know, what are these?

Like, Wakanda cloths here. And I think the artist was behind me. Oh, man. But it was just unfettered, and I was just, like, it's great. It ain't for me.

And she just Right. Right.

Right. Right.

He's like, why is everything a pop culture reference for you? I was like, this is how I live. So I I don't know. And there's no shots to anyone.

No shots, man.

Look. I can't do it.

Look. I get it. But at the same time, it's like, you gotta know yourself and be comfortable and confident enough within yourself to know when it just ain't it. And if if somebody see my work in the museum and they say, like, that's not it, that's it. That's fine.

Like, I get it. You feel me? Like, I'm I'm all good. I'm cool. But, like, some stuff just I feel like, why is this here?

Like, really? Like, really? This? You know? Like

Like, we're we're getting there, but it's like Mhmm. A little bit more. Like Yeah. Like Like, if you put a little bit more salt in there, you balance the flavors a little bit. Yeah.

I think this would work in this this this atmosphere. Yeah.

Mhmm. Yep. Well, you know, this is my opinion.

We we end on controversy, so thank you. So in these these final moments, and and, again, thank you so much for coming back. I wanna be in a part of this, this the second round. And, I wanna invite you to share with the listeners just sort of, you know, any final words, final thoughts, and sort of where they can check you out to follow on all of the happenings you have moving forward. The floor is yours.

Yeah, man. I would say keep the main thing the main thing, whatever that is to you. You know, like, don't get sidetracked with all this other fugazi stuff that's going on. Just pay attention to you know, stay, you know, stay aware. But at the same token, like, be comfortable and confident within yourself and what you bring to the table.

You know, like, I see a lot happening out here, and a lot of it happens. A lot of artists are being taken advantage of. A lot of people are being taken advantage of because they don't have confidence within themselves. Don't think that what someone else has is better than what you have. You know what I mean?

Like, this stuff probably is most of it is phony. A lot of people are phony. They not who they portray themselves to be on social media. So let that go. But I don't know.

I just felt like I went on a rant right there.

No. You're not. Oh, good. It it it it it dovetails in your previous point, and I'm sitting here nodding. I was like, finally, someone else is saying, I have to be the neutral host.

But here in the again, you know, it works.

I'm hey. Look. I'm going to tell it like it is. And you get catch me on a wrong day, you'll get a whole you get me on a soapbox for the whole show. But I think that's why people gravitate to me and just like my wife and just people that I'm close with in general because we're gonna keep it a 100.

You know what I mean? And it's not disrespect to anybody else. I just think society today is just, like, did a complete 180. Like, American culture has completely shifted, you know, in terms of just people being real and just people being phony. And, you know, like, word is bond is not a thing no more.

You know what I mean? Like, people people don't even care about their neighbor no more. You know? Like, I had a grown man send a message to, like, a Facebook chat that lives in my community complaining about having to pick up a piece of trash in our community. And our community is far from, like, 30.

It's rarely you know, like, it was a bad one day, so it was a little bit of trash. I'm thinking, like, yo, back in the day and I'm saying back in the day, like, I'm 60. But when I was younger, I grew up and I saw, like, men in the neighborhood going around keeping the community clean, checking on women. You know what I mean? Like, making sure if something is bruh, if I saw trash in the community, in my neighborhood, and it's not always trash there, I'm gonna go pick it up and throw it away.

And it's not gonna be a big deal, but it's it's just different, man. And I'm not with it. I'm not with it. And I don't like it.

It's it's it's like the thing I was was touching on earlier, that pendulum. Like, culturally, you know, I and you you were touching on it earlier. Like, you know, when there are people who just they don't really stand on some things, like, I'm less interested in talking. Like, you know, like, I try to be professional in this. Right.

I take a journalistic approach to it and no shots. But I Mhmm. Journalists all the time that aren't fact checking stories. And they're just putting it out there. And because they may do a cool reel with it, they're looked at as a source of truth.

Right.

And, you know, they get all of the impressions and clicks. And I try to do something that has sort of merit, thinking it personal, but also it's just sort of the statement of how how things go. Right. And my thing is you you put forth a better intent. So when I have conversations with folks who are journalists, I'm asking them questions questions about journalistic integrity and how they go about, you know, marrying being fast Mhmm.

While also getting the story right. Right. And I see a lot of people focus on getting the story out there fast versus being accurate. And I've had conversations in the last month with locals, some business owners, some artists, you know, some people in the arts administrative lane. That was like some of these publications Mhmm.

Have, you know, added fuel to the fire of misquoting and misreporting thing. And, you know, at a point, you back in the day, because now I'm gonna act like I'm 60, you had to issue retractions.

Yeah. Absolutely.

You can't just put out something that's just Right. Inaccurate for the clicks. Right. And we we need to kind of return to some degree of accountability, but also just, like, people being more connected, people being more real in the community. And that's what I'm a lot of times in this season.

I'm driving that of, like, how do we support? How do we feel supported? How do we show support? And, you know, this is an aside, but I remember I went to the smokers tour years ago. It was Currency, Big Crit, and Method Man.

Mhmm. And I remember Method Man. He was on stage. It was a small crowd, not a And it's a sponsored by, like, raw paper. So it's a very interesting night.

And he was just like, yo, you're not even acting like I wanna be here. Mhmm. I'm here with the cameras. You're not even trying to enjoy it.

Right. Right. Right.

And that's a precursor of what people are experiencing now. And he's like, oh, I'm literally within a few feet of you.

Right. And you got me on your phone. Hey, man. You're not for me, bro.

So so let let me let me hit with the wrap up. So just tell the folks where to, you know, follow you, social media website, all that good stuff, just to stay up to date.

Yeah, man. I'm on, everything is Jarrell Gibbs. I mean, I'm only on, like, 2 social media platforms, and I'm really on either. I'm deaf I'm on Facebook, but you I may check Facebook 2, 3 times out of 365 days, and that may be a stretch. No no no b s.

Yep. Instagram, I'm on more frequently, but I have cut that down a whole lot. But you'll see me post things on Instagram most. Everything is Jarrell Gibbs. That's 2 r's, 2 e's, 2 l's.

Website is Jarrell Gibbs as well. And, yeah, that's pretty much it. If you really wanna holler at me, just shoot me a shoot me an email, you know, and maybe we can get up in real time. But all of that social media stuff is is trash for me. I promise you this.

If it wasn't if posting my artwork wasn't a part of my business strategy, I wouldn't be on any social media anymore. I'm just so through with it.

Look. It's it's the same thing. He's like, you know, this is why I I kinda rally against it. I post a few things here and there. And I I remember I was gone for a bit because you you were touching on New York.

I was up there with some friends. They were like, you posted a while. You know, just wanna make sure everything was good. And I was just like, I'm great. You know?

But I was like, you got you got you got you know, I was saying this to Dee Watkins. I talked to him. I was like, yo, you got my number. You know? That's why I was telling my friends in New York.

I say, you got my number. So if you're, you know, concerned in that way, just hit me up. You know?

It's that simple.

Versus sort of yeah. I just noticed that you have a profile picture of any of the different things. I was like,

does that mean that much?

Like, I wanna hit a real thing? Yeah.

Your n words bug me sometimes.

Like, let's be you know, social media is a fake place.

Yeah, man. Yeah. People getting caught up and lost, and it's like, they really believe what their social media is telling them, they Right. Bro, you are not that in real life.

And there you have it, folks. I wanna again thank the great Jarrell Gibbs for coming back onto the podcast and and catching up with me. And for Jarrell Gibbs, I am Rob Lee saying that there's art, culture, and community in and around your neck of the woods. You've just gotta look for it.