Interview
Marcus Stewart
Marcus is a self-taught, internationally published artist based out of Killeen, Texas. Being raised in a military family coupled with his own military experience, he’s learned the valuable lessons of perseverance and hard work—lessons that he has transcribed into his art.
Working on aircrafts has helped train his eye and mind towards grasping an understanding into how little intricate pieces can play a large role in the operation of a system. This ideology can be found in every part of life itself, and he tries to translate this concept into his art. He aims to interweave the aspects of nature into his art and let each piece breathe its own breath.
Marcus loves to see the beauty that life itself has to offer—the chaos, the passion, the resilience, and all the underlying tones of reality. With as much evil as there is in this world, there is beauty in who we are and in the environment around us. He believes the more we stop and smell the roses, the more we will be able to find peace in a world ridden with war."
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I’ve always loved art, right from when I was young. I didn’t take any art classes, but I’ve always sketched and created art anytime I could, even in between sports and other school activities. I joined the United States Air Force in 2012 but I didn’t really start to journey deep into the art world until I left in 2020.
During my service I worked as a Crew Chief on B-52h Aircraft under the 96th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Through this endeavor I gained new skills, embraced new cultures, and diversified my palette. I believe the introduction to many different cultures during my time of service really opened my eyes to the realness of reality, as well as the beauty of this world that was different from what was in my own backyard. After 8 years of service and minor setbacks in life I was able to refocus my journey. If it wasn’t for the Lord and the support of my friends and family I wouldn’t be where I am today.
In 2023 I graduated from Temple Community College with a degree in health science, and I’m currently pursuing higher education in diagnostic medical sonography. Art, though, has always been my first love and a form of expression and meditation. Once I was able to refocus on my art, the passion for it came back.
Now I’m a husband and a father of four, and through my art I try to show my family that even though life gives you setbacks and obstacles to overcome, you should never stop the pursuit of your dreams. Every day, I focus on evolving and pushing my art as far as I can, while learning as much as I can along this journey.”
What inspires you?
“Life itself inspires me. The nature of humanity, the chaos, the evil, the war, the good, the love, the peace, and everything in between. I love seeing the different cultures and the different walks of life of those that call earth its home. I find beauty in nature, and the nature of us and what makes us who we are today. Also, when I see anybody who creates, whether it be musicians, artists, poets, writers, athletes, and anybody who strives to push themselves,it encourages me to be the best I can be.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“In my artwork, I try to tackle emotions, ideologies, and concepts that every human being encounters in their day-to-day life. Things like despair, resilience, love, hope, the feeling of being enclosed in an abysmal void.
I take these feelings and create art that intertwines everyday nature metaphorically so that the audience feels the story that’s being portrayed and, in some sense, provoke empathy and sympathy by taping into their own personal experiences and emotions.”
“Through art, I tear apart the fabrics of humanity and analyze those threads in an effort to portray the emotions we encounter, and to illustrate the beauty that can be found within them.”
How would you describe your work?
“It’s hard for me to describe my own work, I would rather hear from others to gain a sense of what they see and feel. But if I had to, I’d describe my work as immersive. I create to connect with the world around me. There is no better feeling than hearing people’s own perception of my art and how it makes them feel.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I love the work of any artist of the Renaissance era, and artists like Audrey Kawasaki, James Jean, and Miles Johnston.”
What is your creative process like?
“Whenever I get an idea or an overall concept in my head, I’ll start making a generalized sketch on paper. I then start thinking of everything I want to incorporate in it. I’ll start researching and pulling from my own personal database. Then I start contemplating on the media, and the type of canvas I want to use.
As I do this, the image starts to become a little clearer. That’s when I begin to immerse myself in music and the world around me. I’ve always found music to be a form of mediation and a coping mechanism. While listening to music, I find myself going from just staring at a ceiling to dancing around the house and around my wife and kids. When my soul starts to groove, the art has a different flow to it and things start to piece themselves together. This process can take anything between a number of days to months, sometimes. Even when I get busy with work, school, and family, I eventually make it back to the art piece.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“An artist’s role in society is to create, influence, and push the boundaries of our social norms, because art has no boundaries. Also, to try to capture and weave together all the madness and beauty of the world into something beautiful that can be heard, read, seen, or even felt. As long as the world keeps evolving, art will continue to evolve as it is both progressive and digressive.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I’m currently showing my work at the Blackout Exhibition being held by the Holy Art Gallery in London, running from 18 July - 18 August 2023.
I’ll also be participating in the Ideas Empire Exhibition being held by Capital Culture House in Manhattan, New York running from the 5 September - 17 September, 2023.
Instagram: @_d.stew_/
Other: Brush
