We were lucky to catch up with Theosis Santos recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Theosis, thanks for joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

The first time I actually received money from my Art was selling prints on this bridge in Philadelphia at the end of South St. I was inspired by a movie with Jean Michel Basquiat called, ‘ Downtown 81’. In the movie, He needs to make money and He walks through his neighborhood with a painting in hand on his way to downtown trying to sell it. Seeing his determination — insanely inspired me to say I can do it too. So I made some prints at Staples then I put them on a presentation board and I walked through my neighborhood and took the train with my pieces in hand. I made like $65 dollars the first day just from prints I was selling for $5 dollars. I remember someone saying they were too cheap and I needed to raise my prices I believe they bought one for $10 dollars.

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

Well first I want to say what makes me different than others is honestly my human experience. I am 1 of 1 and so are you. No one in the Universe was created like you. I’ve been making Art since a young age, it all started with Dragon Ball Z when I was 5. I’m now Thirty and I’m still in love. I also had very interesting friends growing up whom kinda showed me the simulation. Let me explain, I had a friend around this time whom would write upside down backwards. The teacher would always get mad at them for writing the way it was comfortable for them so I started since a young age to have an eye for the abnormal specially growing up in the church and seeing people crawl on the floor made me understand there’s more to reality that meets the eye. For my style it started to really come about when I was in High school. I used to draw comic book drawings in ballpoint pen and I got really good at not making mistakes. I then started to just have fun with it and sort of create my own figures / characters at times. That’s when I stumbled upon autonomous drawings. I started to create from a place where you’re just in the zone and flowing. A lot of rappers have this method as well of creating like Lil Wayne, Jay Z and Kendrick. I remember in college a friend of mine was asking me,” if I knew who Dali was ? ” and I was clueless. So when I found out about the Surrealism movement it very much added to my inspiration of seeing the world in a different way. At the current moment I’m having fun with Hyperrealistic portraits as I also make Surreal paintings in Acrylic. In my paintings I like to speak about concepts I find interesting or ideas I think should be put into question. I also model as well—I started when I was going to school in Wilmington, DE —fast forward 5 years later and someone with an area code from Wilmington calls me to be a part of 3 campaigns for a brand being showcased internationally; it was such a crazy full-circle moment. I’m starting to act as well; just simple roles at the moment but I’m having fun with it. One of my favorite moments in my Art career so far was in 22′ when I was a part of the Made in America festival by Roc Nation in Philadelphia with headlining acts: Bad Bunny and Tyler the Creator. In the near future I want to create a non-profit revolving around Art and the youth.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

In terms of my audience, I don’t have much followers on social media and I’m okay with that. Let me explain. I come to understand you can’t grow in the light. Most things grow in private so with that being said if you focus honestly on just posting at least one good piece or content for the year that’s really all it takes. You just have to get out of the mentality of lack and understand there’s an abundance of people whom would be amaze or love the work you do in whatever shape or form it takes. When you don’t rely on the machine but yourself. No algorithm can stop you.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think society is already doing its best to stay in tune with the times. I have come to understand it’s not per say society holding Artist back its the curators, gallery owners, gatekeepers of information whom control the Art World/Physical. If an Artist is not funded for their Art, how can they create impact or make history if people are gatekeeping their talent. Jean Michel Basquiat Art was never allowed into the certain museums at the time when He was famous and now He’s one of the most influential Artists of the century. Imagine the impact His Art would’ve had in his time for the non-represented communities specially being an Afro-latino as myself.
A thriving ecosystem for us Artist would be; where Art leaders are focused on the future rather than what would make them money the fastest. The Art World would run on the Love of Art rather than the exploitation of it. Also this is my personal experience seeing the past and first hand not selling paintings because gallerist keep telling me they think it’s too Avant-garde or Surrealism doesn’t sell fast or at all. Additionally, a thriving ecosystem would include curators or personas who are in higher platforms than you; actually follow up with their words. Like I’ve had insane amount of instances where someone said, ” I’ll do a studio visit or i’ll include you in this project,”—they never come by or help you. Or if they initially were not interested; please let us know so we can put our attention elsewhere. I bring this up because it’s not sustainable as an Artist to be thinking about your next meal or needs because it hinders the creative process and creates mental fatigued from trying to survive since that essence filters onto your craft. I believe Art reflects the physical so as a cohort we have to be aware of the misinformation & paradigm of reality and where we want to take it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theosxs.com
• Instagram: theosxs

Image Credits

Feature photo :
Dillon Wehde

Letter E :
Cause Village Art Installation, letter E : Made In America 22′ Festival curated by Jay Z

Painting :
Brand Me : Yes,Yes, Yes
Acrylic on Wood Panel
8″ x 10″

Drawings :
Concept Value
( Autonomous ) Ballpoint Pen on Paper
11″ x 17″

Pine-Apple Fish ( Ananas Comosus )
Graphite, White-Charcoal on Paper
28″ x 15″