We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Troy Duff. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Troy below.

Troy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’ve always been a true fan of Hip Hop and the culture, and in 2019 an amazing opportunity crossed my path, to create 5 pieces for the new National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM). This of course came at a bit challenging time for me due to being laid up from foot surgery. Needles to say the excitement was on full throttle, and the healing couldn’t happen fast enough. I healed fast , got to work and created 5 graffiti pieces for the Hip Hop Gallery to pay homage to the elements of the hip hop culture. These are permanent pieces that are on display here in my home town in Downtown Nashville. Wow , I keep basking in this opportunity to share my voice that I carried throughout my journey in these elements of Graffiti , Breakdancing , DJ’n and MC’n.

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?

I’m a native of Nashville TN; but have also live d in Los Angeles for several years. I began my graffiti experience through an introduction from a good friend in high school . We both loved the street culture of hip hop , skateboarding and BMX racing. I was immediately hooked on this extraordinary art form. From this beginning I thrived in Los Angeles where the graffiti scene in the 1990’s was at a pinnacle moment. I taught myself how to airbrush, which really help me to blend my colors and to learn the color pallet to showcase my highs and lows. I also studied graphic design , perspective drawing and other mediums while attending Nossi College of Art. After graduating, I returned back to Los Angeles where I worked in the fashion industry, starting a clothing line based on graffiti mixed w/ high end couture as well as your basic street wear. I’m now back in Nashville , working as a full time Graffiti Artist/ Muralist, and the journey has more than I could have imagined in a very positive light. Creating for celebrities, major brands , corporation’s, live applications , restaurants as well as, the average family that may want a commissioned piece for their home. I’m very passionate about my love for the graffiti scene , mostly because it’s about individualism and what I want to showcase to my visual audience. Also , the graffiti art form is not for everyone, and a lot of people are intimidated by it and I love that because I get a chance to show this medium in a different light.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist, is the satisfaction I get when revealing a commissioned piece to an individual, and seeing the excitement as well as the fulfillment. You don’t always know if a client will like a piece ; but I feel that if they are true followers of my works and if I’m happy with it , then my chances are pretty good they will like as well.

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

My particular goal / mission on this creative journey, is to stay true to my vision that feeds my soul. There are several styles , mediums ,and creators that produce very intriguing works that I respect. However, even though the multitude of my workforce is graffiti applications, that is what really moves me and keeps my passion for what I do at bay. As long as I’m still creating some new , then I have something to say visually, and that’s enough for me!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.troyduffart.com
• Instagram: @duffomatic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/duffclothing
• Youtube: Troy Duff @crestrok

Image Credits
Portrait of me by @photosbywurm