We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joey Brock a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Joey, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I’ve always been creative and I have a degree in Fashion merchandising but strangely enough, I didn’t pursue that career after I graduated. My plans took a detour! I ended up landing in the corporate world working as an Executive Assistant in Commercial Real Estate for Goldman Sachs and finally the Royal Bank of Canada for almost 20 years. I started painting about 30 years ago at the suggestion of friend. He said I needed a creative outlet and he was right. So he gifted me some paint, canvases & brushes. That’s when my artistic journey really started along with working my full-time corporate gig. In 2020, during the pandemic, I was laid off from my job at RBC and through the encouragement of a dear friend, I decided to take the plunge into a full-time artist career, and I haven’t looked back!
Joey, 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?
I am a Contemporary Mixed Media Artist, who is redefining the medium of photography, textile art and contemporary craft with my intricate and cultural commentary work aimed to break the stigma around sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity, age and mental wellness. My art is photography based. By weaving together diverse materials, my work lowers the barriers to understanding the multifaceted human experience, allowing viewers to visualize the nuanced struggles, resilience, and growth that define all people. My work is about celebrating & sharing the stories of people. I just moved into a new live work art studio/gallery space, by appointment, that’s located in the Cedars neighborhood just sourh of downtown Dallas. I’ve been represented at various galleries throughout the United States such as Aspen, Palm Springs and Park City. I’m currently represented at On Center Gallery in Provincetown, MA, The Gallery at Bowie House in Ft Worth and I work with Gallery Defi in Dallas. I’ve also been working with Wexel Art in Austin. They specialize in acrylic art frames and their target focus is in the high-end design & art market. They will be representing my work at the Affordable Art Fair in Austin May 14 – 17 this year. My latest series of portraits has focused on the Texas / Western culture which is part of my heritage being native of the state. I offer custom portrait commissions for my clients and that has taken off in the last few years. People like the idea of a contemporary portrait in my unique artist style. I’ve enjoyed the commission work and the people I get to meet.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A big lesson for me has been to broaden my focus and cast a wider net. Especially in our current economy. I’ve gotten much more expansive in my scope. So rather than simply looking at myself as an artist but as an entrepreneur. Being an artist is not easy life but I love the ride and the freedom of working for myself.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Buy original art, follow us & engage on our social media platforms and come to our exhibitions. It’s all about community and we need that more than ever. Art brings so much joy to our lives and will start a conversation to hopefully find more common ground despite our differences. Artists are the vessel for fresh ideas and important political & social commentary. If we lose these voices it erodes our free speech which is part of the fabric of our democracy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joeybrockart.com
- Instagram: @joeybrockart
- Facebook: Joey Brock
- Linkedin: Joey Brock
