As you all know I recently returned from a great trip to Miami for Art Basel. In addition to being a lot of fun and an opportunity to see great art it was also an opportunity to interact with some of the world's most talented artists. During the weekend I met an incredibly talented performance and video artist named Kalup Linzy. I am embarrassed to admit that I had seen very little of Kalup works before I set foot in the "30 Americans" show at the Rubell Family Collection. When I wandered into the video gallery I had no idea what to expect. His work is entertaining and HYSTERICAL!

Since Miami I've had the pleasure of speaking with Kalup a few times and recently we had one of my "Urban Pop Conversations." Take a few minutes to read the conversation, check out Kalups bio and a few samples of his work. I'm pretty sure you will find it as entertaining, engaging and thought provoking as I did.

Here it is in it's entirety.

Ricky
Hey Kalup thanks for having this little chat with me.
How are you?

Kalup
I'm good

Ricky
So tell my readers a little about yourself...where are you from?

Kalup
I'm from a small rural community in Florida called Stuckey. I attended college at the University of South Florida where I earned a BA and a MFA in Studio Art.

Ricky
Where in Florida is Stuckey? North of Miami?

Kalup
Yes. Central Florida. It's located between Tampa and Orlando.

Ricky
How large of a city is it?

Kalup
Maybe a mile or two long. Not sure of the width. Less than 500 people. Way less. It's a settlement. Not really a town. Very close-knit.

Ricky
What was it like growing up in a small town? Did you long for the big city or was it a great experience growing up in a small town?

Kalup
We (kids from Stuckey), depended on our imaginations alot. When it was boring, it was boring. But there were times when it was so much fun. And that fun often stemmed from the relationships you had with those around you.

Ricky
So tell my readers a little bit about what you do

Kalup
I am a video and performance artist. Early in my life, I had dreams of being a musician, an actor, filmmaker, and so on. By the time I finished grad school, I had evolved into a video and performance artist.

Ricky
For the layman describe what a performance artist is and what you do

Kalup
In the majority of my video work, I pre-record or overdubbed all the dialogue using my voice, which i then manipulate. I play the lead characters and my friends take on the supporting roles. There are a few videos in which i decided not to do the overdubbed thing because i was unsure of how my work was resonating with people.

Ricky
At what age did you start wanting to be a performer?

Kalup
I was performing since i could remember. 4 or 5. It was always my second nature.

Ricky
That seems to be the case with most performers...when did you decide to pursue fine art performance in lieu of being a pop star or movie actor?
Actually that was an assumption, maybe you haven't made that choice at all...lol

Kalup
I was in Mass Communications in undergrad and it was suggested I go over to the fine arts department. the advisor suggested florida state film school. I stayed there and because things shifted to digital, I have been able to carve out a place for myself. Mainly because of the shift in the art world and the industry. My work has been said to fall somewhere in between. However, my base is the artworld. But I have relationships with people in both the film and music industries.

Ricky
You perform in drag why did you make that particular choice? Waht does it bring to your work?

Kalup
I like to explore ideas surrounding gender roles and identity. I have always been in touch with my feminine and masculine side. In this exploration, things can get a little confusion. But because I use the structures of the soap opera and music videos people stay along for the ride. It is also intended to spark conversations. Especially those that deal with the construction of identity. A conversation that was started by artist before me. My work continues that tradition.

Ricky
How has the south influenced your work?

Kalup
Language and debates around it. Some of my characters speak in a dialect that is specific to my hometown and others speak in what we consider to be standard English. They all have a southern accent, which I haven't been able to shred. Most actors used to be told to get rid of their accents or learn how not to use it when they act, which i totally get. However, I decided to create video and performance work in which i could continue to embrace that part of me.

Ricky
Your bio says you are gay, I assume this is the case…__When did you realize you were different from the other boyz?_

Kalup
I knew I was gay early in childhood, but waited until my late teens to really acknowledge it. If I would have turned out Bi, I probably would have never publicly addressed it.

Ricky
I hear you...are you at peace with your sexuality now or is something that you're working out in your work?

Kalup
I am definitely still working through some stuff. And I often explore those issues through my work. I am more at peace than i was before.

Ricky
Is your family supportive of you and your work?

Kalup
Yes. We don't really get into it too deep. Some YouTube clips they enjoy more than others, but for the most part they haven't seen the pieces in their entirety. And for some, they are not apart of the audience that would appreciate the type of work i do. So it's really all good.

Ricky

Do you include other types of expression in your art practice?

Kalup
Other than video and performance, I create works on paper which include drawings and prints.

Ricky

What are some of your favorite characters you’ve created? Give me the top three and why?

Kalup
That's a difficult one. I would say...
Wow... give me a moment

Ricky

LOL...

I knew it would be hard, but I'm curious

Kalup
Taiwan, because i get to explore my musical side. write songs and perfprm them. Katonya, who I use to create the drawings that sell faster than the videos themselves. And Labisha, because she was one of the first I performed live and she tends to be the most outspoken and can say almost anything. I love all the my characters. Even the one i don't actually portray.

Ricky

You wanna tell us more about the one you don't portray?

Kalup
sure. I love the character Matissa from Play wit de Churen. As well as Grace Jackson from Melody Set Me Free.

Ricky

What did you like most about art school?

Kalup
The freedom, but I still had to learn how to defend my work. I realized how great school was once it was over, but in it, I didn't have the easiest time.

Ricky

Do you think all artists should attend art school?

Kalup
No. It's not necessary for everyone. It really depends on what your needs are at a particular time in your life. For me introduce me to new people to support my career and focus. But it didn't give me my natural talents. Some artists don't practice art once school is over.

Ricky

2 or 3 more questions and we're done man...Who are some of your most important influences?

Kalup
Soap Operas, The Black Male Body by Thelma Golden, John Waters, Black Comedians (In Living Color/Def Comedy Jam), Spike Lee, and soul music from the 60s and 70s.

Ricky

To wrap this up imma do a rapid fire sorta thing...just answer with the first thing that comes to mind…u ready?

Kalup
yes

Ricky

Quick answers Kalup..imma put u on blast if u cheat…LOL

Kalup
okay

Ricky

chocolate or vanilla?

Kalup
chocalate

Ricky

up or down?

Kalup
up

Ricky

top or bottom?

Kalup
tricky.

Ricky

hmmm huh …LOL / video or radio?

lol

u're cheatin Kalup

Kalup
Video…and i'm not cheating...lol

Ricky

top or bottom?

Kalup

i do multiple things on top

Ricky

LOL…imma leave that alone

New York or LA?

Kalup
seriously
New York

Ricky

Hip hop or R&B?

Kalup
R&B

Ricky

Young and The Restless or All MY Children?

Kalup
Young and the Restless

Ricky

favorite ice cream?

Kalup
butter pecan

Ricky

favorite artist?

Kalup
whitney houston

Ricky

and where do you want to see your career five years from now?

Kalup
feature film completed, more museum shows, and tv series

Ricky

Kalup I really appreciate you taking the time to speak with me

Kalup
thanks for inviting me

Ricky

We had a lil convo about my portrait project This is The Life...I wanna get you on record you're gonna pose for it right?

LOL..no pressure

Kalup
yes

Ricky

Well have a great day and make sure you tell all your friends to check out the blog man. As we discussed I think it's up to people like you and me to share fine art with as many people as possible

www.UrbanPopLife.net

Kalup
will do

Ricky

Have a great weekend.

Kalup
You too.