Today, we’re going In the Studio with artist Brandon Slewion. His artwork is on display in the Chesapeake Arts Center’s Creative Freedom: Celebrating Black History Month gallery exhibit, on view from January 29 - March 3, 2024.

The gallery reception for the show is on February 22, 2024 6 - 8 pm.

RSVP HERE

Brandon Slewion (b. 1997)

Brandon Slewion is an interdisciplinary artist, educator and entrepreneur working between Toledo, Ohio and Washington D.C. Raised in the nation capital his relationship with politics, business, tourism, and inner city sports during his youth significantly affected his perspective of identity, competitive culture, and personal branding. Expanding the idea of public works and alternative education, he is redesigning the role of an artist as a role model
Through his vibrant abstract paintings Slewion captures the rigorous route of entrepreneurship while keeping community above capitalism. Known for his spirited mannequin, he manufactures his destiny in the midst of manifest destiny. His performance art as a measure of progress of Black Americans within American society, Slewion advocates for control over one’s narrative.

How do you ﬁnd inspiration?

One of my favorite rappers Lordy says it best, “I live life before I write a verse, its expected of me.” From brushing my teeth in the morning to rocking my daughter to sleep at night, everything in between is up for grabs. Becoming a father has had a huge presence in my recent work. The new perspective acquired makes it extremely easy to let gratitude lead the way. I try not to take a moment for granted, so I use all of them to fuel ideas to come.

When did you start creating art? Was there an event that led you to?

Believe it or not a few friends of mind were convinced we would be the next Nike Company. We created sneaker designs, appointed positions, and even fired people from those positions. Our teachers encouraged our creativity very early. Soon after, we were convinced cartoons was the next stop and then eventually we took it as far as making robots. I thought going to college for engineering led me astray but even then I was creating. I’ve been an artist my entire life. Everyone has.

How have your life experiences inﬂuenced your aesthetic style?

Life for me has been more colorful than clear. It’s been filled with all type of stories, typical and irregular. I come from a very vibrant place in Washington DC. The fluidity of culture and business give the city so much personality. A lot of that has found itself in my work. A lot of that has come through me. Sometimes the emphasis is on palette, and most time stories of a beautiful blur. My style like my life tends to not fit in a box.

Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?

It would probably be Steven M. Cummings. His work capturing the soul of DC is unmatched. There’s a portrait of his that followed me around during my childhood. It was the most regal picture I had seen of a black man next to Fredrick Douglass. This one felt closer to home though, more personal. It would be a dream of mine to not only talk with him about his own story but to find a way to intertwine it with my own. I aspire to be as masterful and impactful as him.

What’s your go-to song or album that you listen to while you create?

For me, the first artists in rotation are always Larry June and Westside Gunn. The mixture of healthy hustler rap from June and the grimy luxury rap from Gunn make for a powerful room. They both always remind me there is room for improvement. Longevity is a pillar in their rhymes too. That’s really helpful for the marathon of an artist like me.

How has your art/style evolved over time?

When I started painting I did a lot of portraits of friends and loved ones. From there I started reflect on my own life doing several self-portraits. My work became a lot more introspective following George Floyds murder. I felt then that it was time to value my perspective and life. Now I lead my story through art with feelings and movement making my work stretch through abstraction, installations, and poetry. Pieces created more from a performance seem to resonate more not just with myself but with my audience.

What's your biggest barrier to being an artist? How do you address

There is no short cut to becoming a self-sustaining artist. It includes planning and execution, faith and a good network.You run your own show as a creative. To support yourself with your art, you have to run good business. Contrary to what people think, business is personal. So for me I’ve created a healthy balance of storytelling, branding, and marketing. We are past the times of starving artist and the first people who have to adopt that are artists themselves.

To find out more about Brandon, visit his website.