We recently connected with Anthony Burks Sr. and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Anthony, thanks for joining us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?
Over the last 5 years I have been blessed with some amazing opportunities. I have been awarded the first round of The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County Artist Innovation Fellowship, received multiple grants, had several art acquisitions in both public and private collections including two in the Canopy by Hilton West Palm Beach Downtown’s Acquisition of Art in Permanent Collection and two at the Norton Museum Acquisition of Art in the R. H. Norton Permanent collection, and most recently having five of my works on a television series. With all these successes, many people assume that I do not need anything and that I have made it. It is assumed that I am so successful that being included in projects would not be necessary. I still have life expenses and a family to support. I need to continue that journey of art sales, exhibitions, consulting, acquisition, fellowships, grants, and any gig that will help in my personal life and journey. It is definitely misunderstood that because of these short-term milestones, I am above it all to accept other projects. I would still love invitations for new opportunities.
Anthony, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I have been in the commercial and fine arts industries for over three decades. In that time my wife and I started our company ATB Fine Art Group Inc. (ATB). Our company creates, teaches, promotes, sells and curates art. We started a product and art line called Ethnic Mermaids, founded exhibitions including CONTINUUM PB Arts, Karibu, Boys II Men Art Expo and The African Diaspora Exhibition as well as founded a 501(c)3 organization the No More Starving Artists Foundation that’s mission is to help primarily Palm Beach County artists be sustainable personally and professionally by providing opportunities and services. I am proud of all the things we have established over the years. Contributing art to the community is the mission for which I have always strived. I am able to provide work to high end collectors as well as those just starting to collect. I am also able to provide gift items such as coloring books, wearable merchandise and unique one-of-a-kind things like hand drawn cigar boxes and wine boxes. The goal is to make sure that my potential clients have options, and my regular clients have positive experience.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2020, the pandemic forced me and other creatives like me to pivot. All my classes and exhibitions were cancelled, and I was concerned that I was not going to be able to sell my works. The irony was I received the fellowship from the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County that same year. I was able to acquire a studio space in Palm Beach Gardens at Zero Empty Spaces. I started doing Facebook and Instagram Lives and got introduced to a whole new audience outside of Florida and acquired new clients and collectors.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My basic goal is to be able to live a happy and comfortable life doing what I love. With the support of the community where I was born, raised and currently live and work, this can achievable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.anthonyburkscollection.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ampburks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ampburksartist
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-burks-sr-a57a46/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/ampburks
Image Credits
Trina Slade-Burks