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

Alright, Grady thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I have worked on is ROCKIN’ FLEA. Earlier this year I started selling some of my art (pictures, collages, and knitted balaclavas) at small bar shows, and other events. Unfortunately, I had not made any sales at the few vending opportunities I had been to. I knew this wasn’t a problem with my quality of work, but rather the environment I was selling in. People just weren’t looking to buy what I had to sell at these events. I knew one of my good friends Halley Davis was also struggling similarly to myself, leaving events with less money than what we walked in with. One day we were crafting together and lamenting about how it would be nice to have an event for artists to sell their wares while also being a space where people would want to stay and create community. This ideation turned into planning our first event very quickly. Halley found artists to vend, and I asked some bands to come and play throughout the day. From our first event, we had found other people interested in growing our project.
ROCKIN’ FLEA has been one of the most meaningful projects I have ever worked on. Growing up in the digital age, I love that I have created a space where people can find community for free in the real world. A space for artists to share what they do and make money from their talents. Watching other people succeed all because a friend and I said “Let’s make our dream a reality.”

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I grew up in Huntington Beach and Westminster, California. Growing up I was always surrounded by art. My parents put me in dance classes, and I learned piano and violin at a very young age. As I grew I also learned: flute, ukulele, and bass guitar. My hobbies were (and still are) always arts and crafts based: painting, knitting, writing, singing, collaging, and drawing. Just to name a few. As I got older, I found photography to be a very captivating art. Doing little photoshoots with myself in my bedroom, and taking pictures on hikes. I attended a performing arts high school where I studied, theater, dance, and flute. To me, art is like breathing, natural and necessary for survival. In all my hardest moments I have turned to my creativity to solve my problems.

I prefer to consider myself an “artist” rather than hold myself to one specific art I make. Currently, photography has been fulfilling my need to create. I work very closely with smaller local Los Angeles-based bands, taking pictures at their shows, or doing photoshoots for promotion and marketing. At the moment The Smugs, Jagged Baptist Club, TWOLIPS, So Vain, and Spooky Marvin are a few of the local artists that am working with. I love doing photoshoots that are extremely eclectic. I know a photo is good when someone says “That is so weird, I have never seen anything like this before.”

I also co-founded a grassroots flea market with a group of other artists (Halley Davis – co-founder, Indigo Lopez, Irma Berganza, and Miah Pafumi). We named it ROCKIN’ FLEA. We host all different kinds of artists who sell their works, and have musicians of all genres play the day away! Being able to create a space outside of the internet, for people to meet up, spend time with each other, and meet new people is a dream come true. We just started the event in April 2024 and already we have grown so much.

Lastly, I am a part of a two-piece performance art piece named “DADA’s HOME.” We scream, cry, laugh, and ponder about things that are impacting us as working-class artists. We (Chloe Cambell and I) are very inspired by the art movement from the early 1900s Dadaism. Essentially, artists that subscribed to the movement believed that art does not have to be good, or inherently meaningful to be considered art. So we prance around on stage at punk shows with our little act. Bringing joy and confusion to all who observe.

My mission in this life is to use my creativity to help others succeed. I believe that it is only lonely at the top if you do not ask for help on your way up. It is more important than ever to connect with the humans around you. Not only to feel less alone in this loneliness pandemic but also to help others and to get help when needed.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

A book that has significantly impacted my management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy is The Autobiography of Abby Hoffman. He was an American-Jewish activist in the 1960s up until his death in 1989. He is primarily remembered for his efforts in protesting the Vietnam War. A brilliant mind who understood that sometimes, the best way to lead a group of people is to lead with enthusiasm and light. He was heavily criticized by many of his peers for being too outrageous. For example, he was the second person to ever be censored on live television for wearing a button-up shirt made out of an American flag (at the time it was seen as extremely disrespectful to wear an American flag, funny how things change).

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

One way society can support artists is to hire real artists for projects. AI is a very hot topic in the creative world at the moment. Some people love it, other people hate it. I think that it can be helpful, however, laws and regulations have not caught up with the technology yet. Creating an environment where companies are not hiring as many artists as they once did. Leaving thousands of artists jobless, clawing for any opportunity they can get.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: hippiedippiedooo

Image Credits

Image of me with the heart clown makeup taken by @suitcasejoe (on instagram)
all other photos are taken by me!