We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kyle Epps a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

In this moment, my most meaningful work is with Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. With the platform and space they’ve provide I’ve felt a sense of responsibility. Being able to create two exhibitions, perform, and work freely throughout the garden has been a privilege honored immensely. As well, going through my process of study and research has led to creations spreading beyond my previous expectations. “Blooms of Light”, an augmented reality exhibition, displays work created while exploring the Garden. From volunteers to staff to visitors, every individual inspired these works. Conversations with them became guides to the many revisions toward the final presentation. “Cultivating Community: Legacies in Bloom,” the first exhibit, shares the different stories of people living on the Garden’s land. From representations of modern culture to recognizing the indigenous previously residing to sharing the stories of Grace Arents and Lewis Ginter. The entire exhibition as well as the individual pieces of art act as starting points for discussion and study of historic narratives.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am an educator, performing visual artist, and theatrical sound designer working out of Richmond, VA. I became an artist after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University – Communication Arts. By putting art in local businesses I was able to start creating income selling my student projects and work assignments. Currently I operate an art merchandise business alongside managing my professional career and services. My work is about the narrative of life and all that makes it up. In that, people find interest in their personal experiences of my work and exploring the variety of experience others have with the same presentation. In this connecting and building of community, I believe my work to have the most importance and impact.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, hearing and facilitating discussions of ideas, views, and perspectives is the most rewarding part being an artist; specifically, using my unique combination of abilities toward achieving each project’s goals. Being empathetic to audiences inspiring my work is just as important as finding clearer, more impactful ways of representation.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Many times I have been asked or encourage to make art about me or from my perspective of experience. In my reflection, I found those artworks put me in places of familiarity stifling my growth. As I create more work considering my goals and ideals my work blooms new life and energy. It was in the realization of my language, channels, and processes for creation being resources of the public I became purpose-filled. My art becoming a purer representation of me because the process of creation comes from what is natural to me. In all these words, I guess I’m saying I had to unlearn myself to re- present self better.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kylemepps.com
• Instagram: @kylemepps
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/kylemepps
• Linkedin: @kylemepps
• Twitter: @kylemepps
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/kylemepps
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/blcgld