Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephen Robertson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Stephen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I’ve always wanted to be an artist, my whole life, but I realized I wanted to pursue arts professionally around 2018. I had just graduated the University of Memphis in December of 2017 and realized quickly, I was way too ambitious and too much of a dreamer to do the corporate life. The more life defining moment came when I joined a creative collective by the name of v$nr in 2020. The individual who birthed the movement, Bryan Roberson, who most know as Yobreezye asked me to be apart of the collective.
It was through our partnership and work, I began to see the shift in respect for my own creative work professionally, as well as, the path that enabled me to see that living off of art was possible. I was at work one day, probably had only been shooting for 9 months or so, within that 9 months only used my camera maybe 13 times. While at work Yobreezye had called me a few times for an opportunity in Nashville, the opportunity, a photoshoot with the multimillionaire and icon Master P. I missed that shoot and no telling the possible connections, because I was working for someone else at the time.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hi, my name Steph, also known as Sola & I’m from the Whitehaven neighborhood of Memphis, TN. I’m an art curator, as well as, a deejay, photographer & writer. I’ve been writing since I was about 7 years old and have managed to garner a few publications along the way. I started out doing spoken word in 2010, helping create a platform entitled “UPs or Underground Poets’ Society” for writers alongside one of my colleagues, Briana Clearly, aboard the USS Eisenhower while enlisted in the United States Navy.
After my enlistment, I ventured back home to attend the University of Memphis, where I was able establish enough of an audience to cultivate an idea called “Black Alumni Wknd” centered around molding a true homecoming experience for the Alumni of UofMemphis.
That path led me to join a creative collective called v$nr, short for visionaries It’s like a multi-media outlet that focuses on visual arts, life$tyle, nightlife & rhymes. We try to highlight all the dope aspects and things happening in our culture from a super dope art perspective. Just pointing out the beauty that’s happening in our everyday lives.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Passion or not, art is a craft that still takes work, time and focus. Look at DJ’s for example or event planners. Most of society will look at the atmosphere, the environment and write off the simple notion that, fun or not, it’s still work for us. The atmosphere that you’re enjoying is our job and we need the proper amount of understanding and respect for what we do, to continue to create these moments and experiences.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Most artists/creatives, do what we do purely out of love. I think for myself, the most rewarding aspect is discovering your audience and realizing that people are falling in love with your work/art the same way and reason you fell in love with Art in the first place.
Contact Info:
- Website: vsnr.us
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/_solasteph?igshid=NzNkNDdiOGI=
- Twitter: @_solasteph
Image Credits
photo credits: Bobby Donaby, Tre’bor Jones, Andre Dodson & Stephen Robertson