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

Rahn , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Being a full-time artist was always in the background of my mind, and no one tells you how to live only as an artist. It was way more subtle and slow growing than I thought it would be. But through my creative jobs like picture framing, assisting with public sculptors, and creating crafts with First Congregational Church, and the huge installations of the Liturgical seasons. I’ve been able to sustain myself and focus on my work full time. I’ve been able to hone in on my style of art practice, and I’ve learned even when the money isn’t there just yet, if you do what gives you life it will sustain itself eventually. It puts less pressure on the making aspect of the art practice and frees the mind for inspiration ~

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Rahn Marion I’m a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on painting. Born and raised here in Memphis, I’ve always taken to creating with anything I could get my hands on, paint, sticks, mud, paint, grass, magnets, pencils anything. I was lucky to have supportive parents that believed in the journey of the artist way, even when I couldn’t see it for myself. My parents weren’t artist but my mother dabbled with pencils throughout my life, so she had some idea of how to lead me through mediums or point me in the right direction.

As an emerging queer black artist in Memphis, I’ve faced numerous challenges and obstacles on my journey, whether that be racially, or otherwise. In the south you have to navigate like a feather with a rock tied on, wavering through the wind. But being grounded like a rock through Kundalini Yoga, or meditation has always been my way of coming back to myself, and not allowing the obvious dangers to sway me off track. Kundalini focuses on the breath, and putting your body in strange, uncomfortable positions so you can breathe through them, and become comfortable even when uncomfortable. In this day and age, this is incredibly necessary.

I’ve been finding inspiration in medieval artworks, artists like Harmonia Rosales, Remedios Varo, William Blake, Albrecht Durer, Hitda Codex, and Hieronymus Bosch and manuscript illustrations, most of those artists are unknown, and the illustrations were being created in a time of newness and imagination.. some of them didn’t know what some animals looked like, only drawing from descriptions. I find it hilarious and makes me jealous of such an imaginative time. I feel like mainstream society today lacks imagination. It’s not their fault most things are shoved into our face from our devices.

In the recent years I’ve taken wood sculpting under my belt, and have connected my ancestors and lineage of black Memphis sculptors as my biggest inspiration. Benin Bronzes have drawn me to creating masks of similar appearance but only through wood work, and a burning technique. I’m able to convey a strong African style, while still allowing my own artistic style to shine through. I also paint with Oils, and I use this medium because of the range of ways to manipulate the paint, whether that be texture, scraping, thinning, layering, etc. Living in a church I’ve come to be very familiar with the bible and liturgical seasons, these themes have found a cozy place in my work, sometimes it shows itself through iconography, some more subtle, such as religious poses, or sacred objects. I tie all of my experiences through my youth of discovering my sexuality, and trying my best to concentrate on what it means to be a black man in America. My work encapsulates all of these ideas, heavy handed or not. I hope my viewers regardless of their identity can relate and find their own selves within the works.

All of these elements help me communicate complex ideas, and feelings, fostering empathy and understanding between diverse groups of people. I hope to elevate my people, and look for various other ways of seeing ourselves. Imagining a world of more imaginative unconventional ways of viewing their perspective and cultivating a more vibrant community.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Living in a church for 7 years was a journey both rewarding and challenging. At first, I was hesitant about the idea of living within a church space, as I had concerns of privacy issues and potential conflicts with other residents. However, overtime, I came to truly appreciate the many benefits that this living arrangement provided. It gave me financial stability and the ability to focus on my art and other passions without worrying about rent. It also helped cultivate a strong sense of community and belonging, as I got to know many of the First Congo employees and guests on a personal level.

Despite these benefits, there were also many challenges that came with living in a church. Mental health issues among other residents or employees often created some tension and stress, which required patience and understanding to navigate. Additionally, working as part of the First Congo Community meant contributing to the mission of welcoming the stranger, we were first called “Stranger’s Church” during the Civil War era. As a place where those adrift and strangers could find sanctuary among the Protestant Fundamentalists of the time. It was rewarding but often required hard work and flexibility. Through it all, I held fast to the belief that I was making a positive impact in the world, and that this living situation was enabling me to develop the resilience and strength I needed to succeed in life.

In the end, all of these experiences taught me valuable lessons about the power of resilience, adaptability, and compassion. – both for others, and for myself. I learned that by overcoming adversity and working hard, I could accomplish almost anything I set to achieve. This journey living in a church fortified my beliefs in myself and in my humanity, instilling values that will stay with me forever.
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What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that you have the ability to create your own reality. It is about tapping into your deepest desires and pulling them out, giving them life through your work. Whether it’s painting, a sculpture, a song, or the clothes you choose that day. You can find creativity in every moment and using that experience to create something new and unique. It starts from within yourself, being creative is about unlocking your imagination and freeing yourself from self-doubt and constraints; it is about letting yourself dream and following those dream wherever they lead. In pursuing this journey of self-discovery, one transforms their inner life, and the outer world. The Queen of drag, Rupaul always says “You’re born naked and the rest is drag”! If you were to look at the span, and development of the Earth itself, language is a very new concept. Only a few 150,000 years old… So tap into those ancient ancestral ways of expressing and conveying ideas, and simply imagine!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rahnmarion.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/rahn_marion

Image Credits
Courtney Whitlow Kai Ross Rahn Marion