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

Geoffrey, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my forthcoming memoir, ‘The Book of G,” set for release in the second half of 2026. The book traces my unconventional creative journey—one built entirely outside formal training. I never went to art school, never studied writing in an academic setting, and never waited for permission. Instead, I built a life in art through instinct, persistence, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity. The memoir documents that path: the risks, the missteps, the reinventions, and the refusal to let gatekeeping define possibility.

I’m Geoffrey Dicker, a Los Angeles–based self-taught abstract painter, writer (sixteen books), clothing designer, and concert photographer. For over two decades, I’ve maintained an active, interdisciplinary practice at the intersection of visual art, narrative, and cultural documentation. My painting series, Abstract Atmospheres, recently filled the legendary Circus of Books in West Hollywood with over 100 works in a solo exhibition. The paintings are rotational and non-fixed, allowing orientation—and therefore meaning—to remain open and participatory. My work is held in private collections internationally, from New York to Bangalore, and I maintain a permanent mini-exhibit steps away from the resting place of one of entertainment’s most iconic figures in Los Angeles.

“The Book of G” contextualizes this body of visual work within a broader cultural narrative shaped by two decades in proximity to art, music, film, and public life. The memoir includes moments such as a heated discussion with Prince at Paisley Park, dancing onstage with Grace Jones, and appearing in the Wall Street Journal alongside Frank Stella—receipts attached. At its core, the book is inspirational, funny, and at times heartbreaking: the story of an artist who chose authenticity over approval, and built a substantial, cohesive body of work on his own terms.

Geoffrey, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

When I lived in New York, my apartment was in Chelsea, steps away from some of the world’s most important galleries. At the time, I was writing a website documenting the city’s art and music scene, and alongside fellow tastemaker Gail Worley, I immersed myself in gallery culture week after week. We would leave openings astonished by the level of invention and boldness we encountered. I didn’t realize it then, but those countless hours spent absorbing contemporary work and speaking with many legendary artists were shaping me. The images, scale, and ambition seeped into my subconscious. When I finally picked up a paintbrush for the first time, creativity poured out with an urgency that surprised even me.

As I continued painting, my mission became twofold: to create something unlike anything I had ever seen before, and to uplift the viewer—especially in these dark and uncertain times. That intention naturally led me toward vivid color, movement, and a charged sense of energy. My paintings are bright, immersive, and emotionally open. Recently, I’ve begun translating my visual language into clothing, turning my designs into wearable pieces. When I wear them, the response is immediate and enthusiastic. The uniqueness of the work—its refusal to conform—resonates.

My writing follows the same philosophy. I am not interested in imitating the great masters; I am committed to a voice that is direct, unfiltered, and distinctly my own. What my books may lack in ornate scenic detail, they make up for in propulsion and story. Creative freedom has always been nonnegotiable for me. That freedom has led to sixteen self-released books spanning poetry, novels, stage plays, and screenplays, with subject matter ranging from an intimate love story (Beware of Dog) to the autobiography of a fictional rock star (The Autobiography of Ultra) as well as a speculative future set 500 years ahead (Post Celebrity). In 2020, before a vaccine was developed for COVID-19, I released a satirical oral history about a deadly virus (The Rise and Fall of Utopia). I move between genres instinctively, aware that such range can be seen as commercially risky in traditional publishing. But for me, authenticity outweighs strategy. I self-release my work, rely on word of mouth and social media, and accept that there is nothing easy about this path. It is not designed for convenience; it is designed for truth.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist, for me, is creative sovereignty—the freedom to translate my inner world into tangible form without asking permission. I built my practice without formal training and without waiting for institutional validation. Whether I’m painting, writing, designing clothing, or documenting culture, I get to decide the medium, the message, and the timing. That autonomy is everything.

There is also the reward of impact. I set out to create work that uplifts people, especially during dark or uncertain times. When someone connects with a painting, compliments something I’ve designed, or tells me one of my books stayed with them, I’m reminded that something personal became universal. An idea that once existed only in my mind now lives in someone else’s experience. That resonance is powerful.

Most of all, it’s the knowledge that I’ve done it on my own terms. No gatekeepers. No formulas. Just instinct, persistence, and authenticity. The greatest reward is knowing the work is fully mine—and that it exists in the world because I chose to make it.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

If what I’ve shared resonates with you—or if you’re wondering how to begin your own creative path—I encourage you to explore my memoir, The Book of G. It is more than a reflection on the highs and lows of a creative life; it is a testament to choosing authenticity in a time when conformity often feels easier. The book traces an unconventional journey, one shaped by instinct, risk, persistence, and an unwavering commitment to self-expression.

The direction I’ve taken has never been traditional, but it has been deeply stimulating and profoundly rewarding. I hope my story offers not just insight, but permission—the reminder that there is no single “correct” way to build a creative life, only the courage to begin.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.geoffreydicker.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@according2g
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/geoffreydicker
• Other: Clothing: https://according2gwear.printify.me