We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kaden Bard Dawson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kaden Bard , thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I have been interested in art for as long as I can remember. At an early age, I enjoyed drawing and fabricating works of art from recycled materials. I think on some level I always knew I was going to pursue a creative path; I just didn’t know what shape it would take. My freshman year of high school, I took my first photography class, and that completely changed my world. Those four years in school I learned the entire process of analog photography from shooting, developing film, and producing prints in the darkroom. This also included alternative printing techniques with Cyanotypes, Van Dyke Browns, and the Sabattier Effect. My teacher, Mr. Burget, saw my passion for the medium and encouraged me to go further by helping me exhibit my work in gallery exhibitions. My work started receiving a lot of attention and awards. Unfortunately, I decided against pursuing art in college because I was under the impression the only career path possible for a photographer was in wedding photography. While studying marketing and management in college, I continued shooting, exhibiting, and publishing my work. I realized that my passion for creating wasn’t going anywhere, and at some point in the future I needed to pursue art in graduate school. After graduating, my grandmother invited me to go to Europe with her. Abroad, I was immersed in so much art. It was then that I decided to take myself even more seriously as an artist. On that trip, I developed the idea for my first solo exhibition, and when I returned home, I committed myself completely to creating the work and finding the best space to showcase it. I now know this is what I want to be doing.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Kaden Bard Dawson, and I am a multidisciplinary artist. I am from Bisbee, Arizona, and I currently live in New York City. I work primarily in photography, videography, printmaking, music, and fashion. As an artist, I appear in numerous art galleries and exhibitions and have frequently been published in digital and print magazines. I have a sustainable clothing brand called BARD 1999 that is available in-store at Phoenix General. I also work in the commercial field in creative direction, graphic design, styling, and production. I have two Bachelor of Science degrees in Management and Marketing (Digital and Integrated Marketing Communications). The knowledge gained from my degrees has been useful in working freelance as an artist and creative. I understand how to market my skills to build a brand image that is easy for clients to identify with. I can manage myself and my team to stay on top of client needs and deadlines. Leading a team to accomplish these goals is always part of the job. Networking has allowed me to connect with a wide range of creative and professional individuals, leading to most of my work opportunities. Connecting with people in genuine ways is so important. One of my greatest joys is working with so many inspiring individuals. I am most proud of my ability to uphold my core beliefs when working commercially. My ideals of inclusivity and sustainability are always incorporated into every project. I love when a client or model tells me that my ideas make them feel seen, allowing them to express themselves fully. To achieve this, it’s essential to create a safe environment on set.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is connecting with people. Through art I have met so many amazing individuals that inspire me daily with the art they are creating. I wouldn’t be where I am today without artists like Autumn Kidd, Ellier English, Cass Hoverson, Danielle Gadus, Sam Perry, Izzy Rosales, Jessica McKenzie, Lily Moskowitz, Samantha Allen, Cole Seefus, Tatiyanna Eghan, and Lilvia Soto.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My only goals in life is to make art and build community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kadenbarddawson.com
- Instagram: @kadenbarddawson
- Other: My personal Instagram is @kadenthevegan
