We recently connected with Traé Brooks and have shared our conversation below.

Traé, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

In the beginning, I went to art school where I studied painting. During my studies, I learned about composition, a basic understanding of color theory, and all of the technical skills necessary to illustrate various subjects and ultimately develop a comprehensive body of work. However, it wasn’t until after graduation that I began to explore different artistic mediums and techniques and really develop my own voice as an artist
One of the places where I gained valuable experience was MakerspaceCT in Hartford, Connecticut. There, I learned welding and metal fabrication, which I later incorporated into my artistic practice. My artistic journey has been a series of trial and error, with experimentation being a crucial aspect of my learning and growth.
Today, my craft encompasses a diverse range of skills, including painting, welding, and video work. The main obstacles that stood in the way of me learning more were time constraints and limited access to resources. Mental limitations can play a huge role in stopping anyone from learning more. I think a lot of the time we generally talk ourselves out of trying something new out of fear or self-doubt. I actively try to ignore the self-doubt and approach learning a new skill as “play”.

Traé, 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?

I am an interdisciplinary artist based in Providence, RI. Originally, I was born and raised in Connecticut and earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from the University 0f Hartford in 2019. Since then, I’ve been actively pursuing my career as a professional artist; embracing the joys and struggles that come with it. The art I create explores familial relationships, spirituality, and the collective experience by utilizing various mediums, such as painting, sculpture, metal fabrication, and installation.

As mentioned before, my process is experimental and playful. I work with whatever materials feel right: paint, metal, fabric, found objects, family heirlooms, even worn clothing. These materials carry their own histories, and I use them to capture something essential about the people I’m depicting. Sometimes I’ll paint portraits with bold colors and expressive brushstrokes. Other times I’ll weld metal sculptures or create installations that incorporate personal objects that hold memories or pieces that speak on what’s happening in the present day.

The main thing that I want people to know about my work is that it is constantly growing and evolving the same way I do. I don’t look at my work as static objects; they carry an energy and vibration that is always in motion. And I hope that I can reflect that aspect in the way I work.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

A couple years back, I did an artist residency at The Steel Yard, an industrial arts space where I continued my practice with metalsmithing and fabrication for two years. This would mean having to move to a new state and leaving behind my already established community and starting over again. Initially, I had a very rough start: financial instability, insecure housing, and a loss of creative momentum felt like a collapse of everything familiar, and on top of all that, I was also dealing with the loss of a few colleagues back home. After some time, things in my life began improving and a lot of the work I was making at The Steel Yard was me reflecting on the life changes that were occurring and expressing grief for my old life. Ultimately, I am grateful for experiencing all of that. It clarified my intent and reconnected me to community; the creative work that followed felt honest and necessary. That painful shedding ultimately became transformative, giving me clarity, resilience, and a deeper trust in the unpredictable journey of being an artist.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think something that a lot of non-creatives struggle to understand about my journey thus far is that my idea of success is different from yours. Many people get caught up in the idea that if an artist isn’t consistently making sales or working another job to support their vocation, they’re unsuccessful or their career isn’t taking off. However, the reality is that commercial success may take a very long time to come, and it may not come at all for me. But that doesn’t matter to me. Quite frankly, success for me is making my art despite those challenges, honing my craft, and building a legacy that will outlive me. Being a famous, successful artist would be a nice bonus, but it’s not the only measure of success for me. Sharing my work and having it resonate with so many people is far more exciting for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.traebrooksart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traesart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traé-brooks-71b523226?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios

Image Credits

Daniel Smelansky
Traé Brooks