We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Braxton Fuller a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Braxton , thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
I graduated from College in May 2016. I couldn’t find a job for quite some time when I graduated. I worked with my best friend being his assistant, served part-time, worked construction, and worked a non-paid internship that summer. I put in probably 50 applications and never got a callback. One day, I got a callback for a job I wasn’t qualified for but I impressed the managers during my interview. I was dead broke and was just getting by. I thought my whole life changed after that phone call. I was going to be making more money than I knew what to do with. I worked a 9-5 for a year and a half and I hated every day of it. I quickly learned that corporate life wasn’t for me. I went through a tough life event and started writing poetry as an outlet. I instantly knew I was good at writing. I wrote at work when I got home before I went to sleep etc. I couldn’t get enough of creating. I then realized I could do something with my talents and decided to quit my 9-5 and pursue writing full-time with no plan or anything. I just had the faith in myself and a dream. I wasn’t making any money for about 7 months. I was just writing. I wrote a book that still isn’t published. I had to learn of ways to make money so I started making stickers, apparel, prints, and anything I could sell. I then picked up a canvas and a paintbrush and here I am. I started off making text works and transformed into me making my own symbolism/language and I haven’t looked back.
Braxton , 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 got into being an artist by creating words and poems. I had to make money while creating and writing wasn’t really doing that for me. I was working as an assistant for a bigger artist at the time and he helped me make the transition. I was his assistant for almost 4 years so I knew a little bit about the art world and specific practices. I am a visual artist and I can paint on almost anything. My symbolism is modern and unique and stands out from most art. I had to make an identity for myself so that people would recognize me compared to other artists. It has been a major learning curve especially as of late as I’ve been working on a new body of work. My work can help your house come together as a whole. I want my collectors to feel my work and experience what I’ve been through.
I would say I’m most proud of how far I’ve come as an artist. Its been the rollercoaster of a lifetime but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’ve learned so much and my skill level has advanced quite a bit since I first started. You can see my progress and how far I’ve come just from my Instagram and portfolio. I want my collectors and followers to know that it’s okay to go through hard experiences because those experiences are what make you who you are. We get so caught up in the moment that we don’t realize how strong we are becoming. My work translates that. No matter what you go through, you can always get through it if you set your mind to it. My brand is who I am. Transformation is growth and growth is crucial for survival.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I had to pivot away from writing at the time. In order to survive as a creative you have to make money. Even my text art was really good and catchy but I didn’t have an identity. I was just creating really good concepts but nobody would know I created said concepts if I didn’t tell them. I had to pivot away from that during my first year as an artist because I needed to develop a style and theme throughout my work. The better you stand out and are unique as an artist, the better off your career will be. This pivot allowed me to be more expressive and creative with my work and it helped me get through some hard times.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I’ve had three studios in the time I’ve been an artist and I am going to have to move again soon. The economy has been really tough to sell originals lately but I’ve managed to continue to grow. I started in the basement and it has allowed me to be able to operate in almost any setting. I also had the surprise of triplets in 2021 and that really through my life for a curveball. I still managed to have two group shows in KC and I curated and threw my own solo exhibition in 2021. Since then I’ve been picked up by three galleries (Paris, NYC, and Singapore) and have been able to keep pushing as an artist. You just can’t give up, that is what sets you a part from the next guy. In the current times, people want instant results and gratification but you won’t get that as an artist, you have to put your time in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.braxtonjfuller.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/braxtonjfuller/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/braxtonjfuller