We recently connected with KB Williams and have shared our conversation below.

KB, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

When I was a kid, I had a detrimental streak of perfectionism that I didn’t realize was a problem. I adopted a bad habit of quitting things if I wasn’t immediately THE BEST at whatever the “thing” was. My siblings were both incredibly talented, with clear visions of what they wanted to do with their lives. All I had was a lot of pent-up frustration, as I was always seemingly misunderstood. Being adopted and one of the few black kids in an overwhelmingly white community was lonely and brought a lot of pressure I didn’t know what to do with. I didn’t have an outlet, so that frustration and hurt festered into a heavy depression and anxiety that I would carry with me into adulthood.

As an adult, after years of fumbling interest after interest, never being *perfect* at anything, I realized that there had to be a common denominator…. enter “perfectionism”. It was a monster that held me back and prevented me from enjoying much of anything. One day, I heard someone say that perfectionism is a killer of joy, and boy, did I know that to be true. So I decided to pick up a paintbrush without the pressure of painting anything– just letting my paintbrush dance. Abstract art has no direction, no boundaries, and no expectation of looking a certain way. I was finally free and no longer restrained by the need to be perfect or understood.

Fast forward a year and a half later and I’ve shown my work at countless events and shows, soon to be in my first gallery, and people constantly tell me “I could never do that, I’m just not good at the ‘art thing’.” My response is always, “I’m not either, I just go for it.”

My hope is to help people realize that it’s okay to just make a mess. You don’t have to have an idea when you start or a clear finish line to cross. Just start. Just try. Just. Have. Fun. That’s where the freedom comes from. Creative expression is a playground with no rules. So just go for it.

KB, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Growing up, I was always the kid who had “too many ideas”, but never stuck with anything. I knew I had a spark in me that was just waiting to ignite, I just couldn’t find a place to land.

I was always drawn to art but was never the BEST, so I never pursued it. I had a dream of becoming a photographer but was told I’d never make money chasing that dream, so I buried it and kept trudging along in hopes that I’d find something that would light me up again.

After enduring a lonely and heartbreaking teen pregnancy and the adoption of my son, I started college and dropped out, not once, but twice. From the day I was born, I was destined to be a statistic, and I was painstakingly aware of it. But that spark in me remained, and somehow never got smothered out.

After years of battling depression and a drinking problem as an attempt to cope, I knew I needed a change. I’d always had a love for people and a heart for taking care of those who need it most, I just wasn’t sure how to direct that seemingly aimless passion. How do you combine a desire to create with a passion for caring for the most underserved communities? It wasn’t until I moved to the city that I happened upon the answer.

After a while of letting myself enjoy creativity again, I had an epiphany. What if I used my art to give back? What if I used my art to create a foundation for philanthropy? I’ve been so blessed to have friends who have visions and hearts similar to mine, and one day it all clicked. So I reached out to my friends at the St. Louis Metro Market, and now often partner with them, donating portions of my earnings to help feed the people of the city I love.

I found the sweet spot. I’m able to express myself through my art, all while looking out for those who need it most. I hope to continue partnering with thought leaders to keep making a difference through art. It doesn’t have to be one or the other, and KB Klassix is proof of that. Art has a reputation for being pretentious and selfish, but I’m here to burn that stigma to the ground. Great things happen when your heart’s in the right place, and I know there are endless possibilities on this journey of mine. I just can’t wait to see where it takes me next.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I had to learn to be comfortable being ME.

I’m only 26, but for most of my life, I struggled to force myself into boxes that I was never meant to be in in the first place. I tried endlessly to present myself in a way that was digestible to the people around me, instead of just embracing who I was. I thought I had to paint a picture for people that was pleasant and didn’t cause waves. But what I didn’t realize was that I was breaking myself to please other people. I was never happy. I never let myself experience joy because of how other people might perceive me.

One day I gave up. I didn’t want to squeeze into their boxes anymore. I was tired and cramped. I wanted room to spread my wings– I NEEDED room to spread my wings. So I made the space myself. Creating a reputation in the art world gave me a platform to redesign my reputation in my personal world, and it’s been an incredible thing. Who cares if I ruffle a few feathers? That’s what artists do, right?

People love me because I’m ME. Not because I put on a show. And it’s been nothing short of life-altering to experience that in both realms.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My entire journey is a story of resilience. That’s what I’m most proud of. From the day I was born and adopted, to going through teen pregnancy and the heartbreak of giving my son up for adoption, to battling depression and alcohol addiction, to being a two-time college drop-out, to being so broke I didn’t know where my next meal was coming from…. It’s been one challenge after another. But I knew from a young age that I was here to do something nobody else could. I was here to not only survive but to make a difference because my experiences created an empathy in me that is unlike any other.

When I started my art journey, I knew my personal journey would play a big role. It wasn’t always clear how, but I also knew it wasn’t all for nothing. I was trusted with a gift, not for myself, but for those around me, and MY story helps me relate to the story of others. As an artist, there are days when I feel stuck. In my personal life, there are days like that too, but I know I can overcome any challenge I’m faced with because I’ve done it before. Resilience is what sets people apart, and while I wasn’t always happy with the cards I was dealt, I knew, and continue to know that there’s always a reason.

Contact Info:

• Website: kbklassix.com
• Instagram: @kbklassix
• Facebook: KB Klassix
• Linkedin: Kieren (KB) Williams