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Interview with Brooklyn Artist Diana Carla Rowe on Identity and Urban Expression

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter
The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter
Episode • Jun 6, 2022 • 37m

Welcome aboard 'The Truth in This Art' podcast, under the guidance of your host, Rob Lee. On today’s episode, we have Diana Carla Rowe, a 23-year-old contemporary artist hailing from Brooklyn, New York, with roots tracing back to Detroit and Austin. Inspired by her Jamaican heritage and her parents' migration, Diana's artistic journey led her to the vibrant streets of Brooklyn, where she now passionately crafts mesmerizing paintings and illustrations within her Greenpoint studio. Her artistic prowess has left an indelible mark, showcased through her surrealist automatism and captivating mixed media abstractions, reflecting the essence of the ever-changing faces around her. Ranging from intimate 30 in x 30 in canvases to expansive 120 in x 120 in masterpieces, Diana's art reveals a unique repetitive rhythm, mirroring the passage of time. Notably, her inaugural solo exhibition, "Much More Than Madness," held at The Nka Gallery in Memphis, Tennessee, from July to September 2022, offered a deeper glimpse into her creative universe. With a keen eye for unrequited love, mental health, queerness, and the black experience, Diana Carla Rowe's artistic journey continues to captivate and inspire.


During this conversation, we go in-depth on:


  • Diana's artistic roots as she recounts her first encounter with creativity through her father's dancehall music, shaping her early inspiration.
  • Join us as we delve into Diana's artistic influences, from the thought-provoking TV show "The Boondocks" to the impactful representations she found at the Dia museum in Detroit, igniting her passion for art that resonates with her identity.
  • Uncover the compelling themes that drive Diana's artistry – from unrequited love and mental health to queerness and the black experience – as we dissect her current body of work, an exploration of graffiti and street art as powerful mediums of expression.
  • Tune in to a candid conversation about Diana's fearless approach to art, where taking risks becomes a pathway to growth, and discover her belief that perseverance outweighs the challenges of trying.
  •  Discover Brooklyn artist Diana Carla Rowe's insights on identity and urban expression in this engaging interview. 


Join us for a captivating episode as Diana shares her background and first experiences with art, including her father's influence and her love for "The Boondocks" and the Dia museum. She discusses her current body of work, which combines graffiti and street art, and how she has grown as an artist. Diana also talks about her creative process, the feelings she conveys in her work, and her philosophy on art and taking risks.


Mentioned in this episode:

Diana Carla Rowe's Store

Image Credits
photograhers : Vincent K Rutherford Yekaterina Gyadu Treysaun Mcgeachy

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Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

  • Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
  • Edited by Daniel Alexis
  • Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

  • Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
  • Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

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