I started blogging because I didn't know if I wanted to be an artist. I wanted to talk to other people online who were doing art, so I would post work and ask for feedback. I loved that an artist like James Jean would show his process on his blog. It became this open dialogue that, unfortunately, we don't have a lot in the fine-art world. People will say, "Wow, you share a lot." I'm like, "No, I make it a point to." Instagram is a great place for people to share failure. I don't want people to think that being an artist is some glamorous life.
Kerry James Marshall especially was a huge influence on me in graduate school, as were Wangechi Mutu and Julie Mehretu. These artists are titans. My … - Toyin Odutola
Kerry James Marshall especially was a huge influence on me in graduate school, as were Wangechi Mutu and Julie Mehretu. These artists are titans. My …
- Toyin Odutola
The graphic style itself is influenced by a lot of very layered and detailed comics that I read as a kid, like Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue. - Toyin Odutola
The graphic style itself is influenced by a lot of very layered and detailed comics that I read as a kid, like Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue.
For a while, I was nervous about portraying women because of the objectification that automatically comes with it, whether the artist intends or not.… - Toyin Odutola
For a while, I was nervous about portraying women because of the objectification that automatically comes with it, whether the artist intends or not.…
I kept wanting to push my image as validity; I wanted to see my portrait on a wall and know it was okay. - Toyin Odutola
I kept wanting to push my image as validity; I wanted to see my portrait on a wall and know it was okay.
For a while, I was nervous about portraying women because of the objectification that automatically comes with it, whether the artist intends or not. - Toyin Odutola
For a while, I was nervous about portraying women because of the objectification that automatically comes with it, whether the artist intends or not.
I needed to create something I could take with me wherever I went. - Toyin Odutola
I needed to create something I could take with me wherever I went.
Hank Willis Thomas is great. He's the one who "discovered" my work and saw something that I didn't see. He's still constantly pushing me to try out n… - Toyin Odutola
Hank Willis Thomas is great. He's the one who "discovered" my work and saw something that I didn't see. He's still constantly pushing me to try out n…
Where some may see flat, static narratives, I see a spectrum of tonal gradations and realities. What I am creating is literally black portraiture wit… - Toyin Odutola
Where some may see flat, static narratives, I see a spectrum of tonal gradations and realities. What I am creating is literally black portraiture wit…
I moved around a lot when I was a child; two of the houses I grew up in have totally disappeared. One was burnt in a riot, and the other was pulled d… - Toyin Odutola
I moved around a lot when I was a child; two of the houses I grew up in have totally disappeared. One was burnt in a riot, and the other was pulled d…
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