What’s the difference? How has Born Vain evolved in the 15 plus years since you started?
The method [and] the process is the same. Obviously, you grow each year in anything you do. But the actual emphasis [on] the craft of art has changed a bit. I’ve never had any art lessons. Everything that I have right now I’ve either read up on or imitated from another artist. … I’ve taken it to another level by putting it on different objects as well. I started on the T-shirts, then canvas.
Now in [2021], I’m working on different areas, [like] plastic, glass, things of that nature. I’ve been doing leather for over 10 years now. But glass is my new thing.
How do you determine who you’re going to put on your canvases and t-shirts?
When I started the first conception of it, I would just kind of come up with all the different images and ideas from different places … everything from Kunta Kinte to the Minister [Farrakhan].
I do pick images that are close to my heart. Anything like Kaepernick or something that’s really strong. All the Black Panthers, anything like that is just super strong to me … and poignant to other people.
