Artist in conversation: Kobe Donovan
“If I cannot create I have little purpose on this Earth”
In a world filled with constrained minds, greed, and the pursuit of power, Kobe aims to offer something truly beautiful for people to experience. Whether through fashion, film, fine art, or poetry, he strives to evoke deep emotions and awaken the senses, even among those who may be hateful or bitter. His art is a fusion of purgatory and euphoria, lust and love, illusion and influence. It revolves around his four imperial themes of life: The Power of Love, The Beauty of Art, The Art of War, and The Pursuit of Happiness. He excels in fashion and jewelry design, 2D and 3D fine art, as well as filmmaking, writing, and graphic design.
What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique style?
Initially, it was me discovering the pop art scene of the 1980’s. My oldest brother Brian, taught me the basics of Adobe Photoshop and I taught myself to become advanced at it and therefore,I ended up falling in love with the styles and personality of Andy Warhol, he broaden my perspective on what a digital composition could be. From there I then found the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Which gave birth to my visions of messaging and story through my compositions. He inspired me to subscribe to the taught, that you can say a lot and evoke feeling with visual art, instead of just words. With those, I finally felt a spark within my mind and heart of knowing what I wanted to be in life. I also had artistic abilities as a young child but I was also academically gifted. I was about the age of 14 when I then read on the life of Salvador Dali and surrealism and from there it certain. Not only did I know I would be a fine artist but I found an identity within my mediums. I have always found a way to adorn and embellish my life in different ways and I had the confidence that I could direct my focus to the arts. My style developed as I experimented. I still remember my first time using paint. As a young teen I went from just doodling in my notebook to creating medium - large sized canvases as well as transitioning from using Photoshop for just typography to then creating these collaged digital compositions. In my high school I was the only student that would take art class seriously and all my art teachers along the way gave the space and confidence to create. I found it very tranquil, satisfying and fulfilling and each piece has a unique perspective. It was sort of a renaissance within myself that I didn’t really see coming at
such a young age but the feeling gave me the drive to become who I am today.
Do you have any rituals or routines that help you get into a creative mindset when starting a new project?
My mind is sort of a “minefield of creative ideas”, I am very multifaceted so when I conceptualize an idea; starting a new project is usually impulsive and spontaneous but the process of creation is like church to me and it is when I find my peace. I wouldn’t say I do anything consistently the same truly. I do find myself playing music to focus or when I hit a road block in my mind I like to lay down and close my eyes and let my lucid imagination flow.
Can you share a specific project or sculpture that holds significant meaning for you and explain its impact on the community?
I’d like to think it’s my “Nostalgia Future” piece. To me that composition is a reflection of all the pain and struggle I and this world has seen which is the nostalgia and the beauty of what still is and will be and that is the future.
Can you describe your creative process? How do you move from an initial concept to a finished piece, whether it's a garment, a film, or a painting?
All I need is a spark and my passion for the craft takes over. I do work in different art forms so I have a bit of a different tempo with each, but in all my work I am very meticulous and patient.
How do you see the future of art and fashion evolving, and what role do you hope to play in shaping that future?
Art and fashion will always reflect the times. I surely hope with the time that the true creates of this world never lose the poetry within great art. I simply, would like to be an example of that. We as creatives can never become afraid of the effort that is imperial for immaculate conception. I feel people will continue to experiment and art will continue to evolve but that is only good if it never loses meaning and community. I want to create on a larger scale. I recently have been in love with the works of Olafur Eliasson. I appreciate the way he has pushed the envelope with stimulating multiple senses with his installations. Lately I have been working on my 3-dimensional work, with things like furniture and planning out larger scale installations and sculptures. I love the massive energy and presence of creatives like Salvador Dali and create a world you can believe like a Martin Scorsese or Wes Anderson. I want to be profound like James Baldwin and stylish like Karl lagerfield. I just want to inspire others to continue to push the envelope even further.
How do you incorporate feedback from critics and audiences into your artistic practice, and how do you balance this feedback with your own artistic intuition?
I usually take feedback as basically what people feel is missing in the fields of art or what I maybe can improve on but at the end of the day my brush and my artistic gaze will always be connected to me and how I choose to express. As long as the viewer felt something from something I have made or can form their own opinions on it then I am usually fulfilled with that.
How do you stay motivated and inspired despite any setbacks or creative blocks you may encounter?
I do so by knowing and believing this is my purpose and nothing worth while comes easy. If I want to live a life of craft and leisure then I must make no excuses. For me plan B is always to figure out another way to make Plan A work.
How do you feel about exhibiting your artworks with The Holy Art Gallery?
I couldn’t be more excited. This will be my first time having my art displayed internationally and it is definitely a milestone for me. I hope to continue to grow a prolific and great relationship with The Holy Art Gallery.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Long-term wise, I wish to be a master of my mediums, and becoming recognized as a respected world-renowned artist. I have concepts for film, fine art and fashion and I wish to continue to evolve greatly in all of my mediums. I want to create on a large scale and continue to impress my self and the world. I see a lot of longevity for myself in the world of art. I will continue to stay in love with the process. I will continue to hustle to make my dreams come true. I have becoming financially stable which has made pursuing these dreams easier and released a lot of doubt that used to haunt me. I wish godspeed for myself and I am far from slowing down anytime soon.
What role does emotion play in your creative process, and how do you aim to evoke specific feelings or reactions from those who view your artworks?
It is all emotional. I think being relatable is the quickest way to reach people’s feelings as well as creating art that are stimulating to the senses. I want to tell stories with all of my mediums and have climaxes that challenge traditional thought and can pull someone from numbness. The beauty of art, the art of war, the power of love and the pursuit of happiness, it all means so much to me because of how far I have come therefore it is my duty to express and fill my art with my story and maybe something I write or create resonates with the viewer with conviction.
