As part of our Artist in Residency program, TechArtista and Jayvn Solomon have teamed up to bring the Loutopia series to our Downtown location. We will host a Loutopia Exhibition Opening Party on Friday, November 5th, from 5pm to 9pm at 401 Pine Street in Downtown St. Louis. We will also host an artist talk and roundtable on November 18th at 6pm. The exhibition will be on view Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm until Friday, May 13, 2022.

Laura Heying, our Marketing Director, sat down with Jayvn to talk about his upcoming exhibition and more.

An Interview with artist Jayvn Solomon

Are you originally from St. Louis?

Yes, I’m from all over St. Louis city and county. For locals, I went to Kirkwood High School.

Can you describe the work in Loutopia?

Loutopia is a conceptual exploration of how art, nature, and sustainable systems can transform St. Louis for the better.

What inspired the Loutopia series?

Loutopia is inspired by a combination of personal interests, concerns, and the city of St. Louis itself.

Can you describe your work in a larger sense?

My work is nuanced in that I use all the tools in my creative toolbox to do cool shit and try to push the needle on progress. My work mainly consists of murals, community projects, and ideas that haven’t been explored yet and are self-directed, I’d say.

Can you tell me about your mural at our UCity location?

Wow, let me think back to that. I completed the TechArtista UCity courtyard mural about a year and a half ago. My thought process was thinking about what a collaboration between TechArtista and WashU would look like, visually. I thought about how accessible they are to each other and the interaction of possibilities, ideas, and conversations.

How did you end up on this path?

I never planned on being a full-time artist. I’ve always worked in a creative field, a graphic designed by degree, and have dabbled in web design. Actually, the mural I did at TechArtista UCity was the first of its kind, and then that kind of launched me into being an artist full-time during the pandemic.

How has the pandemic affected your work?
Well, it created my work in a way. The pandemic influenced me to focus on what matters to me and what I would like to see done for myself and the community I live in. That has led me to really dig into these values by putting them into my work.

What projects are you working on now?

I just finished a mural in collaboration with St. Louis SC, which is a futsal court in the Marquette Park in the Dutchtown neighborhood. Also, have just completed murals at Maypop Coffee & Garden Shop, and Kairos Academy. I have work going up soon at Betty’s Books in Webster Groves. I also am an Adjunct Senior Professor at Maryville University and the VP of AIGA St. Louis. Overall, I’m working on developing my practice, L.O.T.U.S. Labs.

Where do you find inspiration? Or what are your biggest influences?

I find inspiration and despair in the people I interact with daily. I wish I could say I have more than one source of inspiration, but connecting with people has always been my thing. The more I connect, I realize most people are generally desirable of the same types of lives or lifestyles. I like connecting with people on a human level. I like to escape into this world where I want to live and when other people share the same dream, it’s encouraging.

What is your artwork exploring, underneath everything?

Loutopia explores systems in which we function and how they could be expanded and improved upon holistically in ways that work for those of us who live here and those who visit. For example, I just don’t put in murals and things that look good, I also visualize things like bike lanes, augmented reality integration, agriculture, etc.

Where are your favorite places to see art in St. Louis?

I like viewing art in non-conventional spaces, like City Garden, The Grove, and the Missouri Botanical Garden.

What types of art and culture do you like to consume?

Cartoons, specifically anime. Music, mostly hip hop. My own culture has always influenced me. Being Black, I have always existed at an intersection of different cultures. I enjoy most cultures that are loving.

What process, materials, techniques, etc., do you use to create your artwork?

I use my iPad and phone to take photos and then I will draw over them. My process is living daily life, seeing places that could use more, and then talk to people about it. My process is also a mix of both conversation and exploration.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I teach my students that creativity and design are not just logos and posters, it’s phone cases, water bottles, city planning, and things you need for daily life. Being willing to interact with people, often with different backgrounds, brings me to another level of understanding. Creativity is multifaceted. Design is a powerful tool. I have witnessed changes for the better and that’s what I want to communicate, where my work lives.

If you’d like to learn more about Jayvn and his work, follow him on Instagram at @jayvnize or visit www.jvnize.com or loutopia.city. Keep up to date with future TechArtista events at @techartista.

An Interview with Artist in Residence Jayvn Solomon, Creator of Loutopia