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

Hi Wolfe, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I am a Black, queer, self-taught artist based in Kansas City, MO. I’m also the Artistic Director for the InterUrban ArtHouse (IUAH), an organization that seeks to increase accessibility and equity in the arts. Speaking from experience and from talking with others, it’s common for artists from marginalized communities to feel out of place or unwelcome in mainstream art spaces, so working to change this situation is something I’m passionate about. As Artistic Director, I consider all of what I and our team do at IUAH to be one, big, meaningful project.

I curate our annual, social justice themed exhibitions which focus on: artists who identify as women, LGBTQ+ artists, BIPOC artists, and the intersection of art, health, and disability. We use these exhibitions to highlight artists from underrepresented communities in big, beautiful gallery space.

We also provide affordable studio space and professional development opportunities for the artists we serve. All of this goes towards empowering artists in general and working to make space for those with less of a voice.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a self-taught visual artist, curator, and Artistic Director for the InterUrban ArtHouse, an arts nonprofit that works toward advocacy and equity in the arts. We provide affordable studio space, business courses, and accessible, affordable events for the public. Our focus is on low to moderate income artists and artists from underrepresented communities. My role is to curate exhibitions, performances, and events that make space for many different types of people.

As a gay, Black artist, this work is important to me personally, so my job and passion often overlap. Every year, I curate multicultural, lgbtq+, and art + health exhibitions, as well as co-curate a women’s exhibition alongside a female curator. My personal goal within the organization is to increase different types of representation in mainstream art spaces. It is immensely satisfying when someone comes up to me and expresses how much it means to them to see someone who looks like them, or art by someone who shares their life experience, up on the walls.

As an artist, most of my work is playful, humourous, and, hopefully, speaks to a wide range of people. I make a lot of very small sculpture, around 4-7mm, or complex, intricate line and architectural drawings. My hope is that this causes folks to get up close, interact, and connect with each piece.

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

I’m still unlearning the narrative that you have to follow a certain path (college, grad school, doing something you hate for most of your life) in order to make a living or find success / satisfaction in what you do. After a couple of attempts, I dropped out of college and did various jobs while still producing and showing art. I learned fire performance, made connections with creatives across the city, and found opportunities to produce events. I later went to culinary school, got a degree in culinary arts, and worked in the food industry for a few years, eventually holding a chef position. All of these different experiences and connections qualified me for my current job.

While I sometimes still revert to the “but you didn’t do it the right way” mindset, I always remind myself that if I hadn’t taken the non-traditional path I that I did, there’s a good chance I wouldn’t be making a living doing what I love today.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Pay artists for their time and expertise and understand that this is often how we make a living or supplement our incomes. If you love something we’ve made or need our skills for something, respect us like you would any other professional and don’t expect us to do things for free. Donating our time or work to a cause we feel strongly about is a different matter and subjective to each artist. I know the expression is overused, but it still rings true: Artists die of “exposure.”

Contact Info:

• Website: Artist website: https://wolfebrack.com/ Org website: https://www.interurbanarthouse.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfebrack/
• Facebook: www.linkedin.com/in/wolfe-brack-26ab651b
• Linkedin: Wolfe Brack

Image Credits
headshots by Jason Piggie