We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tommy Kallgren a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tommy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you take vacations? Why or why not?

I work at my craft constantly but I took a month-long trip to Europe and it changed everything! I’m young and haven’t been outside of the country much so I had slight culture shock but mainly a wave of creative inspiration.

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

I’m an artist with a camera. I recently finished my first photography book, Moonchild, which tells the story of a suburban kid caught in the midst of an existential crisis. The images were curated to express themes of home, paranoia, group-think, and ultimately a light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve spent years tirelessly exploring my craft, first as a back-packer with a camera, then a devoted car photographer, and now an everyday-photographer; finding moments of beauty and peculiarity in anything from my friends to a fly on the wall.

I spent the past year in Los Angeles assisting the best fashion photographers in the world and working on commercial projects doing landscapes, still-life, and portraits. My July was spent in Europe resetting my eye, to which I brought home a confidence to not question beauty when I see it. I’m 22 years old now and my love for the craft is ever-expanding.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Most wonder what art is and never get a clear answer. All I can do is show you something, and you either like it or you don’t. It’s not just what’s in an art gallery; it’s the feeling you get when you see snow outside the window and you know that school will be canceled, it’s leftover pizza, no traffic on a Sunday, or the way she rolls over and kisses your cheek. It’s not art, it’s life.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is the truth. If I share my journey honestly, it’ll be a window to the universe.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tommykallgrenllc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommykallgren/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommy-kallgren-223b3b192/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNsVMNmQkEJZieqp_fPVZ5A