We recently connected with Extra Ketchup and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Extra Ketchup, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Yes, I’ve actually been blessed enough to earn a full-time living from my creative work. It started to become full-time back in 2018. I had acquired a DOE vendor’s license to be able to bring workshops and classes to schools all throughout the city. I started teaching graffiti as a form of art therapy in a few schools in Brooklyn and Queens. Also around the same time when I began to assist other creatives who wanted to produce merchandise for their brands. Since everything I release for the most part is printed in-house with my team production team, I started to reach out and help other local brands with their production. This has been a full-time job in itself. I’ve been able to bring so many ideas to life for a lot of up and coming brands and new companies all throughout my community. One major milestone was printing for Mass Appeal. Creating hats for their new magazine “QUEENS GET THE PAPER” and even being featured in their 2nd issue was an amazing opportunity for me. Meeting Nas and knowing he loved and approved of the work we did for them was truly an honorable moment in my journey. And as far as speeding up the process I don’t think that’s something I’d do or even consider due to the fact that I am a firm believer that what’s meant for you will find it’s way to you at it’s own divine time. When you rush you miss details that carry a lot more weight and meaning to your journey.

Extra Ketchup, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is EK, I’m an artist and creative director of EXTRAKETCHUP. I first got into the industry late 2014. As a graffiti writer I wanted to expand my pallet more and find a way to get more involved with the community but also find ways to use my talent to actually earn a living. At first I just vended my art and pieces at shows as a featured artist back in 2015. However I felt like the events I was featured in were missing components and identity. I later in 2016 began to put together my own events. Once I saw how much reach you can have with Instagram I started to use that platform to my best advantage. I would use this platform not only to promote my art and shows but also to develop a brand based off demand. I started by dropping very limited 1 of 1 pieces to then dropping collections that were only available at a pop-up. I later began to use this platform as a gateway to sell product before creating a website because I wanted to use the direct to consumer method to build a community first before it went onto a site. I felt this method would be more beneficial for me money wise and work wise since I was in control of how many units I was selling and also I was in control of creating these pieces at a faster pace than manufacturers overseas. Once my demand grew I knew I would have to develop a better strategy to fulfill these orders and get the product to consumer faster. Resulting in just partnering with local print shops and manufacturers who produced merchandise. With this partnership I was not only able to produce my product at my own pace and with my own quality control, but I was also able to now produce for others as well.

In due time I was able to open up showrooms and small stores for customer pick ups and for me to showcase new items and of course my art. This became a stepping stone for me since I now had a place where I can work on art, showcase my art and merchandise the store to fit the theme or esthetic of each drop under my control. After a few years I saved enough money to open up a gallery in bushwick.

This gallery ran for 3 years and was intended to not only provide my product and display my art but also give a space for other creatives to experience and also host events and workshops of their own.

Owning the gallery was probably one of my most proudest moments in my journey because it became such a big gateway for new clientele. I was able to teach so many workshops, bring together so many creatives from the community, I was able to bridge many industries together under one facility and create memories for so many people. I provided a space for many artists to have their first solo shows. I was able to host other brands and give them their first in-store activations. The gallery was truly unique and brought forth so much growth to myself and the brand, as well as the community.

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

To me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is holding in your hands something that once only existed in your mind. To have the power to think of an idea and develop this idea in your mind to then create it and being able to hold it is beyond a gift. It’s a form of power. Every idea I’ve ever had all stemmed from just a simple thought, a spark of light that hit my brain and wouldn’t be put to rest till I actually held it and see it come alive is extremely rewarding. It can be anything no matter how big or small, the fact that you are the sole creator of that idea you are holding, is the real meaning of art. That’s why I still create daily.

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

Yea one time I had to pivot that always stuck to me was back in late 2023. That’s when I made the choice to let go of the gallery. The circumstances that lead to me closing were not ruled in my favor. Unfortunately when renting an establishment you have to obey it’s orders you agreed to on paper. I had got myself involved in an unfair lease agreement that wouldn’t allow me to move forward with the space. No matter how much I fought to keep it I later realized that it was in fact time to let go of it and move towards a new direction without fear. As much as I felt like I belonged, the discipline and financial responsibility that it took to keep a place at that volume was too much to carry for an individual. As big as the space was I later felt like I outgrew it. And taking the brand back to the streets would result in much more growth than staying idle and committed to a single foundation. I wanted to take this household name to a broader level. After I closed I focused more on the brands development and bringing new eyes to the art. I toured Japan and did a few pop-ups in Tokyo and Osaka. When I returned back from the tour I grounded myself and went back to the drawing board. I reflected on what brought me the most impact and began to turn the wheel to apply methods that always worked since the start that I forgot about along the way. Since closing the gallery I’ve been having pop-ups and art shows in spots all throughout the city. Moving around with the brand and bring it direct to the consumer again like it was truly intended to be from the beginning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.extraketchup.store/
• Instagram: @extraketchup
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/8fVHnZaUisY?si=QQPyyBqUMumJz0zp

Image Credits

@bluntbreakv2
@elevenycphotography