Interview
Ian James Roche
Ian James Roche did not embrace his raw talent as an artist until the age of 35. Born in New York City in 1979 to creative parents, Ian began expressive abstract drawings at the age of seven, and by ten years old he was experimenting with graffiti in the local neighborhood with friends. The interest in abstract drawings and graffiti continued throughout his life. Music was also a big inspiration to him and remains a positive influence on his creativity today. Art classes were always a part of Ian’s schooling and he earned an Associate’s in Culinary Arts from The New York Restaurant School, and an Interdisciplinary B.S. from the New York Institute of Technology. In September of 2014, Ian visited Dia in Beacon, New York and was inspired by the works of Sol Lewitt and Richard Serra.
Ian found Serra’s corten steel sculptures deeply moving and Lewitt’s minimalist wall drawings inspired him to do his own wall drawing. Acquiring an 8ft X 4ft piece of sheet rock and some soft pastels, Ian began. The idea to use pastels came from two pieces of his fathers own artwork that were made in the same media. After a few months of spontaneous pastel painting, Ian had created a large piece of work - which came to be known as ‘Birth of a Superhero.’ There had always been a creative energy within Ian, it had just taken some time and life experience for him to truly accept this creative space within his consciousness. Ian continues to evolve as an artist and refers to his work as high energy or transformational/spiritual art. He sees his work as a necessity to express what lives inside of him, as it is not something he learned, but rather something he knew. He has a studio in Commack, New York and his body of work consists of large scale pastel paintings, pastel wall drawings and ink/pencil drawings.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My real creative journey didn’t begin until I was thirty five, when I was going through a significant transformation in my life. In 2014, I took a trip to Dia in Beacon New York and observed the works of Sol Lewitt and Richard Serra and was peacefully blown away. Their work just brought this warmth over me and I said to myself ‘I want to do this.’ A couple of weeks later, I got myself a piece of 8ftX4ft piece of sheetrock and some soft pastels. I thought to use sheetrock because of Sol Lewitt’s wall drawings. I figured if I didn’t have a wall to draw on, I can just bring a piece of wall home and draw on that. The idea to use pastels came from two pieces of artwork I own that my father had made in a rehab center of the same medium. After a couple of months of feeling my way around the sheetrock with the pastel, I had created, what is now known as ‘Birth of a Superhero.’ There had always been a creative energy inside of me, although it had taken some time and life experience to truly accept this creative space within my consciousness.”
What inspires you?
“When I started this journey I was inspired by books, dreams, music, personal experiences and from simply observing people in life. I am able to pull out shapes and colors from what I see. Something that really inspires me now though, is listening to people talk about their life experiences. From their words I start to see a color or a line and I build on it and let the pastels tell a story.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I think one theme I pursue is healing. People often tell me, there is a healing energy to my work—which I am still trying to understand. My art helps me to heal and to understand life and it’s beautiful to know that it helps others too.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is high vibrational, transformational/spiritual art. Evolutionary even.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Firstly, Sol Lewitt, as his work was really what kicked off my journey as an artist. The colors and minimalist approach he used as well as the size of his work, broke art into a simple language for me. Hilma af Klint also had a huge influence on me, her work deeply resonates with me as it also comes from a spiritual place. I was fortunate to see her work at the Guggenheim in 2019. Then there is David Tremlett, who creates large scale wall drawings - I would love to be able to work with one day. And lastly, two artists who I have recently begun to admire are, Johanna Unzueta Rivas and Nancy Blum. Their work is very beautiful and moving and as with the other artists I’ve mentioned they all inspire me to do my best as an artist and to bring more beauty into the world.”
“My work is high vibrational, transformational/spiritual art.”
What is your creative process like?
“It’s intuitive. I don’t do any preliminary drawings before starting a piece of work. I let go of any concrete images of how a painting should come out and do my best to be present within each moment and trust what comes to me, while painting, so that my heart is the main force behind each line or curve of the pastel, letting the painting evolve into harmony. I work in short bursts, and like to give myself time away from a piece, whilst referring to photos of the work-in-progress in between sessions.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I feel an artist’s role in society is to be courageous and to embrace the strength in feeling their emotions and to trust their intuition, allowing their work to come through them - so that they can convey the beauty and love that lives in this world. The world will always need artists and that needs to be recognized and nurtured.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My very first show, at the Five Points Annex in Connecticut, 2018 was noteworthy. As a solo show, it gave me the opportunity to see the power of my work. Since then I have been selling pieces privately and taking commissions.”
