We were lucky to catch up with DUNN recently and have shared our conversation below.

DUNN, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Creating artwork with signs was a self taught thing for me. I have been figuring it out since 2000 through trial and error. There was no reason to speed up my learning process it has always been gradual. The progression of my skills are in time constantly with my current junction in life. The skill to learn new things is essential as an human. Asking questions is one of the best ways to overcome obstacles when honing skill.

What I know now…. Being able to take my analog skills of sign manipulation and pairing them to mass production sign technology. Has put me in a new realm of my craft. As always in my career I have prided myself on pulling up everyone around me as I stay on the forefront as a creative. Now is no different the new techniques and connections I’ve learned and being able to offer them to my creative community to assist on projects around the globe.

Life throws lots of different opportunities and obstacles at everyone. I’ve had my fair share of both. Some obstacles are easy to overcome others require a pivot in direction. A few recent obstacles like health issues, losing my father and becoming a parent have impacted my artistic journey.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a 4th generation Colorado native. I grew up in south Denver and spent most weekends at my Grandma’s house in Swansea. My mother who is also an artist introduced me to art at a young age. Throughout school, I always gravitated towards art as my creative outlet. After graduating from South High School I attended the Colorado Art Institute. After getting a degree in Animation I started doing freelance design for local bands. I also started producing a weekly comic strip with my best friend from high school. There was no pay for the comic strip or any of the design work I was doing at the time. I enjoyed seeing my designs on concert flyers posted up around the city. I felt accomplished having a weekly published comic strip that ended up running for six years and won a few awards.

I knew I was capable of more as an artist and ended up going back to school. While attending community college to brush up on my graphic design skills. I stumbled upon this medium after ruining a piece for a project due the next day. I had a no-parking sign on hand and used it out of desperation to finish my assignment. 23 years later I’m still creating artwork using street signs.

My work hangs in the private collections of numerous musicians, athletes and actors the likes of which I typically paint. This unique artwork has been featured on Love in Hip Hop, XXL magazine, The Source, Huffington Post and BuzzFeed.

I am most proud of having my work in the permanent collections of The American Jazz Museum (KC) & The Universal Hip Hop Museum (NY),

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

My artistic path has changed a lot over the past 13 years. When I started out making art, Denver was still considered a cow town there was no place for art like mine. I was starting to travel to the country having art shows. I was picked up by an agent in NYC to represent my work. It felt like I was starting to head in new direction.

I was married in 2010, and became a father in 2014. A year before that my father was diagnosed with cancer. I shifted into the Medical Marijuana industry in hopes of finding ways to help him. I also became a dad myself and moved into a more family focused mode. Art became mostly play as a new parent. As my father’s cancer progressed and he moved into hospice at the same time my second son arrived early to the world. I was unable to work as I was going from hospital to hospice daily. My art was strictly used as a coping mechanism to be able to face the next day. During this time I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and began to question my own mortality. I was slowing down and couldn’t say yes to everything I used be able to as an artist. Being a parent and caregiver was my role. My father passed right after he met my second son. Learning to be a special needs parent was my new life path. After years of being introverted and detached from the creative community I realized.
The Denver art scene had changed alot the people I used to run with now ran the city. Thankful to still have those connections in my back pocket I tested the water. Newcomers (artists and galleries) to the scene had no clue who I was, It felt like being back at square one as an artist. I always wondered if i just had taken that leap of faith and became a full time artist…. Where would I be?
Unsure which direction to go I pivoted and started working at a sign shop in my neighborhood. Needing a job that also produced art supplies and knowledge for my existing practice. Learning new tools and technologies I became a sign shop specialist. Now I have a greater grasp of what it is to be a sign maker. The ability to make a complaint sign a municipality would utilize was never on my radar when I started out. These new skills and techniques have allowed me expand my abilities, breathing new life & direction into my craft. As well as allowing me to offer a new option of production to my fellow artists.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect now is creating art with both my sons. Seeing the art my boys create with other members of the family. At the end of the day I’ve always said this is just my creative outlet anything else that stems from it is a happy byproduct. I would still make art if anybody noticed or not. This form of communication I used as a child still is relevant to me as an adult. Making art just keeps me grounded.

A rewarding aspect of working in a sign shop. Is seeing all the signs I’ve had a hand in making all over the state. While being able to share my tools and connections with other creatives around the world.

Contact Info:

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