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

Alright, Dustin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My mission is to make art and keep making art. The story behind that is pretty simple for a long time I thought I was just a comedian and I had a lot of my identity tied to that until I was put in a position where I was unable to perform and didn’t really feel like I knew who I was anymore. I did have the urge to continue to create though. So I got back into graphic design and then figure drawing and then mixed media and then photography and then eventually back into comedy. They are all things that I still enjoy doing and oscillate between them from time to time. Having the privilege and luxury of having.a day job puts me in a position to chose what kind of art I get to create. Also balancing a personal life which for me is also an important part of being an artist.. I try not to create from a vacuum if I can help it but it wouldn’t stop me. I find it more fulfilling to create art drawn from the rich tapestry of life. To be successful is to create art. That for me is the singular mission.

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

I am Dustin David and I am a Comedian, Photographer and Artist. I know these are all essentially subsets of “Artist” but I start with “comedian” so people don’t mentally check out immediately. I was an artist before I was anything. Some of my early work was well received (shitty drawings of the ninja turtles, crayon on construction paper. Age 5) and some caused great controversy (Repeated hitting my little brother with a wiffle bat, Performance Art. Age 9). The need to make sense of the world through creating and sharing art came from having an overwhelming feeling of necessity to connect with others. I don’t see being an artist as a job or career as much as something that I am viscerally compelled to do. The thing I am most proud of I would say is my sobriety (12 years sober as of Feb. 5th 2025) which is more of a life thing than an art thing but as I mentioned before the two are inextricable. This feels like I am trying to use a lot of big words to prove that I read. I don’t know. I’m funny and you should see me do comedy because I am really fucking good at it. My art is on my website and you should buy it. It’s really expensive because it’s important work to me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

In a BBC Documentary about Robert Rauschenberg theres a historian that said “Bob felt that the work wasn’t finished until the viewer finishes the work and bringing their reaction” So I feel like the reward for me is being able to finish the work. Whether it’s someone seeing a photo, or seeing a collage and having some sort of reaction or whether it’s telling a joke and having someone laugh I can feel that the work is really finished. I am really glad I was able to get to a place where I eventually felt comfortable sharing my work I know that’s not the story for many.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Mostly just keep creating and keep challenging myself. Even if it’s just telling my friends jokes and doing bits or putting photo collage reels up on instagram I always want to be creating and sharing. Mostly just focusing on staying present and creating how I’m drawn to create.

Contact Info:

• Website: Comedy https://www.dustindavidcomedy.com/. Art www.dustindustries.co
• Instagram: Comedy / Art @dustindavid_
• Youtube: @dustindavidcomedy

Image Credits

Troy Conrad, Jeff Hilliard