Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chad Whitaker. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Chad , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
I first was first introduced to sculpture in my first semester of graduate school at Indiana university of Pennsylvania, while pursuing my Master of Fine Arts degree. I had initially entered the program as a print making concentration. In that class I felt a freedom and a connection to materials that I never had before. I wasn’t limited by what a camera or a computer could do. I was drawn to the immediate and tactile response that sculpture provided to me. I enjoyed being able to acquire “art supplies” from anywhere, including thrift shops and junkyards. I liked that I was creating something, an object, not just a 2-D representation of a photograph or print. The world suddenly became wide open for me to tell my story.
Chad , 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 was always interested in art as far back as I can remember. I always drew as a child and was into photorealism as a teenager. I went into college and decided to keep taking art classes. I always wanted to become better, to master my skills. I explored different mediums, until I found video and photography, which I worked in for several years exclusively, until I entered graduate school. I consider myself to be a serious artist for about the last 15 years, and I’m still trying to push the boundaries of what I am capable of doing. For the most part I create sculptures from used bedsheets that I manipulate, stiffen and then paint, stain, or treat the surface in patterns and stencils. Some of the work is freestanding, and larger than a human, while some of the pieces are smaller and hang on the wall. I prefer to show my work in art galleries, but social media has been very beneficial, especially during and post Covid. I believe the art world changed, and will never go back to the reliance it once had on galleries, though seeing something on a screen will never compare to what it feels like in real life.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
As much as I enjoy being part of group shows with other talented, creative artists, for me the biggest reward is the solo show. I love the entire process of crafting my own show and this initially happens in a two ways. I either pursue a gallery or space with a proposal or I am invited directly by them. After finding a space and finalizing dates and a general theme of what is expected, I start the process of planning the work and executing the art. This is the exciting and physically demanding part of the process. I typically will have anywhere from 6-9 months to make the work. I feel that my sculpture is stronger when I have a deadline and a goal I’m working towards. It’s a double edge sword sometimes though, you have the reward of making a lot of new pieces, but you have to deal with the high stress and pressure of a grueling schedule. It does feel great to see the work going into a space and getting installed. There is something that changes once your art is in a clean gallery with proper lighting vs. sitting in your studio. I used to love the opening night of an opening and being the center of attention, but that has changed over the years. Sometimes I prefer to just be in the background and let the art speak for itself. Usually after I finish a show I take some time off to recover mentally and physically.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In 2012 I moved home after finishing my graduate coursework to write my thesis for my M.F.A. I hadn’t lived at home for a very long time and was very lucky to always have a supportive family that never questioned why I needed to be an artist. Almost immediately after coming home, my father got sick and was diagnosed with cancer. I didn’t have a job or a fancy studio or the support system of fellow students. I spent two years rebuilding my personal life as well as my art life. I took a part-time job that eventually led to the career I have now, which is not related to art. I do not make a living from art, and I think that is feeing sometimes; I never have to worry about compromising my visions to make my art more marketable. During the time of living at home, I found ways to create meaningful art without being reliant on large studios equipped with expensive tools. I changed how I went about coming up with ideas. It was challenging and also during this time I also got to spend the last two years of my father’s life with him. It really puts what is important and what is insignificant into perspective quickly when you lose someone very important to you. This period of my life changed how I viewed everything moving forward. Shortly after this time, I moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where I knew no one and as hard as that is, it there was also a freedom of starting over. Over the past almost decade of living here, I’ve met many other artists, galleries, and people connected to the arts. Most of these relationships came from accidental meetings of being at the right place at the right time. I learned that sometimes you’ve just got to show up and leave the rest to fate. 
Contact Info:
- Website: whitakerfinearts.com
- Instagram: @whitakerfinearts
- Facebook: Chad E Whitaker