We were lucky to catch up with Tiffany Petty Gilliam recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tiffany thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

One definition of misunderstood is incorrectly interpreted. It seems that the age we live in expects us to come to quick conclusions about the people, circumstances and relationships we are a part of. Life labeled as an “artist” carries a simplified definition that creates and normalized assumptions. Artistic complexity is eliminated, as artists lean into the societies demands, forfeiting that “outsider” perspective that can powerfully contribute to society in meaningful ways.

Throughout my professional trajectory, at times I was not in the running for certain opportunities based on flimsy deductions about my potential contributions – all based on assumptions of “what it means” to be an artist. There is such a depth of consideration for every artist that this expectation doesn’t consider. Its pales our practice for all participants.

In a world where people go to great lengths to distract themselves – artists pay attention. Those insights are as valuable as they are potentially off-putting.

Make sure to leave space for individual perspectives. It’s the only unique thing we have to offer the world, and replications have run amuck for the sake of fitting a feigned social expectation. It’s just not worth it for an artist that works for social approval for the sake of creating something based on what already has the proven “likes” that we consider the same as personal success. How many likes does it take to prove you’re a good, well-liked artist? Why do likes add pressure to personal creation?

Creative success is individual expression. If it’s not individual expression, let’s think more about what exactly we are creating and why.

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

Alright guys, I’ve been an artist longer than I’ve been anything else my entire life. I’ve been a successful, money making, commission-based artist since I was a teenager.

Then, creativity started oozing our me in unexpected areas, proving me wrong about how silo-d I assumed an artist trajectory to be.

I moved back to Texas from Tennessee a decade ago, where I had spent my early 20’s as a tattoo artist. Not in college like my peers, not getting a spouse and maybe some children…just tattooing tourists in the thick of Nashville consumerism on lower broadway. I loved it. As I came back to Texas I immediately started noticing the ease with which strangers defined who they thought I was and what I had to offer, based on visual hints like tattoos and willy-nilly kindness offered to everyone I came in contact with. For the record, kindness doesn’t make you simple, it makes you matter.

So I got annoyed. I got mad and decided to go back to school and prove my value with paperwork. I switched my major from Fine Art to Mass Communication. I wanted to be able to communicate with everyone, no matter the profession or previous life experience. I got a 4.0 and was encouraged to get a master’s degree. I told them I would only do that if I could talk about artists. About the difficulty of bringing a truly unique individual perspective in a world of distracting technology. They said yes. I was the first student in the Communication department at this college to graduate with a published thesis, rather than a comprehensive final exam. I would rather prove that I had something to say then that I can successfully pass a test.

There is an art to speaking – learning to communicate your individual ideas in a way that appropriately reflects their value – which I discovered through learning about and eventually being invited into the international Media Ecology Association, where I now sit on the board. Lance Strate defines Media Ecology as “the study of media environments, the idea that technology and techniques, modes of information and codes of communication play a leading role in human affairs.”

As it stands now, I take commissions on paintings as they come and enjoy every minute of it, as I am invested in the individual participation of communities that ask me to create something from nothing, for them and reflecting them. All my commissions are informed and influenced by the people I meet and the lives they life.

I am also a PhD student at Duquesne University, which is full of classmates that have felt so much like home. Whatever home is, whatever “belonging” is seems to be redefined in our global world that constantly juggles all of us who are stretched–too-thin.

I’m just not convinced that we are all randomly here to exist to isolate, stare at screens and die. Creation is the most important thing we can do, hopefully contribution individual perspectives in a supportive community.

I am proud to pay attention. Proud to look people in the eye and make sure they know that they matter. Proud to make art, write papers, read, teach, speak and contribute to a conversation that has been happening long before me and will happen long after I’m gone.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I am driven by taking my existence for what it is, and trusting that there is a way in which the specifics of who I am and what I can offer are a positive contribution to society. I don’t want to be the queen of the world but I certainly don’t want to think I’m inconsequential. For that reason, I make much of my unique skills and perspectives, believing that being exactly who I am is literally giving my very, very best. No one can offer what I am, which is true for literally every single human in existence, no matter how hard they try to fall in line with everyone else.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Freedom. Paying attention from an anti-environmental perspective loosens the grip on consumerism and redirects intentions toward redefining success, a full life, goals. The chance to through what matters and why on a daily basis. I am appreciative for this perspective and participating in this unique crew of creatives that are individual, inquisitive, beautiful, curious. Minds, hearts and experiences that are worthy of being known – as long as you pay attention.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.media-ecology.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art.tif/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanypettygilliam/