We were lucky to catch up with JEFF K%NZ recently and have shared our conversation below.
JEFF, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
First I’ll say, risks are how you rise. I truly believe that. When I graduated from college I started off with a risk. I moved to Houston TX where no one knew who I was. I moved there with money saved and no job. I told my father before I left, maybe I can get a job cleaning up at a gallery somewhere, get my foot in the door, and then make my way into curating.
That risk propelled me forward. Shortly after I arrived in Houston, I was met with challenges. Hurricane Harvey, losing my job that I just got, and having to find a new place to live. Through all that I was blessed with the opportunity to become the exhibition coordinator and curator for the Community Artists Collective.
I owe a lot of where I am and who I am as an artist to my time in Texas, and my mentor Michelle Barnes. Director/Founder of the Collective. After I reached a point where I felt like I needed to elevate even further, another Risk came forward.
I decided to move to Chicago. I wanted to use the knowledge I gained in TX and apply it to another big city where I felt like my music and art could flourish and I could thrive. I took another risk, and moved across the country to place I was unfamiliar with. That took me places I only dreamed of. 3 years later, I’ve accomplished more than i imagined. From touring the county and establishing myself as a musician here. To Being in many art shows selling and surviving off of my work.
I’m grateful for risks. They’ve pushed me forward when I felt like my back was against the wall.
JEFF, 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?
If you haven’t met me, my name is JEFF K%NZ. The percent sign represents two O’s (pronounced KOONZ). The % is a symbol for knowing your worth. Understanding that you deserve at the very least a piece of anything you want to get into. I took on the name, being a big fan of Jeff koons. But more so, I felt as though his work was an identical representation of my Music. With my name being Jeff and me truly being as artist. It felt right.
I got into this business by way of love and passion. From there I was able to get further by practicing positioning. Putting myself in places that could help elevate my knowledge and my craft. That led me to building relationships with organizations and important people that would help me along the way. Aside from offering inspiring folks with my music, I’ve been to create a business that aids in your creative consciousness. I started a sip and paint business called Think&Paint. It curates conscious conversation and teaches the creative process through the elements and principles of art. The conversations we share at Think&Paint offer our clients self evaluation and learning how to solve some of your own issues through the creative process.
I believe what sets me apart from others is the belief in my purpose. I feel as though I’ve found purpose in spreading creative conciseness across the world. I embody it every time I step out the house.
I’ve been able to accomplish a lot in my short life. But what I’m most proud of is never giving up on my self. My childhood self would be proud of where I am because I did so much of what I said I would do. That I am truly proud of.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
I’ve always seen artists as extraordinary human beings. In general I believe everyone has the ability to create, however being born an artist is a very special gift. Through out time , Artists have been revered by culture and society as instrumental cogs in human experience. Whether it was capturing history through a depiction, or communicating spiritual and religious ideas. Artist have served a great purpose in through out the history of mankind. Yet, most artist today struggle, and have difficult time surviving off of something that’s so essential to our society. What society can do best is remember how valuable artist are to their way of life! Understanding the value in the Artist will help boost the economic hurdles we artists face. Remember that there are things some of us cannot do, and if you want to obtain what you cannot produce yourself, you should pay for it and respect it as such.
Have you ever had to pivot?
The pandemic shook the world. Everyone in their own right had struggles and hardships they were dealing with. As an artist, that time was crucial for my career. At the time I was trying to create something to sell in my artistry that felt needed. Soon after the world shut down and I was forced to figure out my ideas. With no shows, no contact with clients and potential buyers, I fell into economic hardship that I’m sure many artists experienced. With my back against the wall, and the pressure of possible eviction, I needed to pivot. Through that pivot I was able to Create Think&Paint and was able to live off it ever since. It was due to circumstance but I learned that most business women and men tend to pivot at some point in their careers.
Contact Info:
- Website: Thinkandpaintgr8.com
- Instagram: @_JEFFKOONZ
- Facebook: JEFF K%NZ
- Twitter: @_JEFFKOONZ
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jeffknz9468
Image Credits
@niccibrian @madiisonelaine @vsiduagaite @kayodidthat_ @stevensjpeg