Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to KYLE ERICKSON. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

KYLE, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I’m happier having a full time job which allows me to create on my own terms, not produce for the sake of earning a living. I do wish I was able to make a better living than I do now – primarily selling my artwork, but I understand the competitiveness of the arts and the struggles to gain notoriety enough to charge the steep prices my mosaic work deserves. Museums, Galleries, public art programs, and the general “ART” world are riddled with boring and worthless art that is basic and safe for all to view. Few artists are pushing the envelope, and the ones who are, I feel do it on their own terms without the help of Art institutions. It’s sad that one artist can create amazing work but not have the proper “in” to showcase, and another artist who has an art degree can tape a banana on the wall and be famous because their degree makes it art. I don’t want to only make mosaics for a living, I dream of building my own play space with art and design elements I want to see in the world. Why wait for someone to commission the large scale art you wan’t to create, find a way to bring it into the world without having to compromise or fit into a narrow public art category. Too many calls for art require working with the community to create art representing the few voices who care enough to show up, I want to make my dreams and my views of the community within which I live without having to have my work reviewed by a so called expert panel. Sometimes you have to create the space for your art to make it’s way into the world and not solely rely on galleries, and public art programs. I plan to do just this with a business idea which blends art perfectly with some normal business money making paths. Then I will be free to create the world I want to see. Until then I will continue making the art I want to see on my terms without having to deal with the stresses of making a living of only my art.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Creativity always coursed through my veins, and when I stumbled into the world of Mosaic art, it sucked me in and showed me why all the paths I took leading up to finding mosaic were perfectly timed to make me a better mosaic artist. Having worked for a large glass mosaic company creating works installed around the world taught me the basics of tile work. From there I excelled teaching myself the craft without the influence of another mosaic artist, and found myself doing mosaic work far from ordinary. I do art for me, not for profit, and I turn jobs down that won’t let me create freely. When I am commissioned for a work, I do well with the customer giving only a basic idea which I take into my own realm of inspiration and run with my deep desires so that the work can be the best I can make. I think that, and my background of darker arts involving found objects sets me apart from most other mosaic artists and artists in general. Mosaic is an art form, when used with found objects and a plethora of other mediums is very hard to replicate, and it’s longevity makes for it to be a true collectible beyond a painting or photograph.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Art has always been something I have to do. I meet other artists and feel they often glorify the look and prestige of an artist without having the need to create. Too many creatives put artists on a pedestal as something to become and I view their art as hollow and bland because of it. I am pained into creating, ideas take over my brain and I have to make them real to stay sane while I feel others try to make art because it looks fun, and to some degree it is for them. But I feel the best artists create because they have to. It is a true outlet and therapy for them which gives the art more emotion, truth, and beauty over art made because they have learned the skills.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

NFTs are one way to collect art for the future digital world we are heading toward. Artists can make money from their work being authenticated digitally and is a way to prevent forgeries. Much like other humans, I am analog and I prefer the analog world. Vinyl records are analog and sound better than digital music, and physical art is better than digital in my opinion. My mosaic work is the perfect anti digital art form because AI can’t replicate a real mosaic of mine in the physical world so I feel no need to turn my work into an NFT at the moment. Nothing is better than my work in person with all the angles of light reflecting off the glass – ever changing with the daylight and nightlights. They are alive in a way that no NFT can ever achieve. However, other artists may find them useful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://masterful-mosaics.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/masterful_mosaics