Artist Spotlight: Megan Gabrielle
“You don’t need a museum membership or a Warhol wig to enjoy art.”
We’re solid believers that art is for everyone, no matter what block you grew up on or who taught you how to tie your shoes. It's all around us—just look up.
Meet Megan Gabrielle, a multidisciplinary artist with next level paint skills and a strong voice for young, emerging artists of color in New York City. We don't just dig Megan's style (it's why we collaborated with her on a campaign near and dear to our hearts), but respect her commitment to the creative community.
Who or what inspires you as a creative?
Nothing inspires me more than witnessing the rise of young black artists in New York City creating dynamic work. Seeing people who look like me achieve success in the arts is a huge motivator. Things are much more tangible when you can see them — half the battle is putting yourself out there for the world to look at and either love or judge.
What do public art installations convey about your work that gallery exhibitions cannot?
Public art is so important to me because anyone from any background has access to it. Once my artwork was transformed into a mural, people walking down the street were free to form opinions on it, take photos with it, and it became a part of the community.
“Nothing inspires me more than witnessing the rise of young black artists in New York City creating dynamic work. Seeing people who look like me achieve success in the arts is a huge motivator.”
As an artist whose work mainly lives on canvas, how did it feel seeing your work go from sketchbook to a 23' x 28' wall?
Unreal! I’ve only recently started putting myself out there as an artist, so to be selected to collaborate with such a classic brand early in my artistic career felt like a dream.
How do you think the meaning of your work changes when recreated at this size?
With my art being recreated at this size, it quickly went from simply being a rough idea I sketched out to becoming a larger than life piece of art that represented a feeling I had, that could now be shared with countless other people.
What’s been the biggest leap of faith you’ve taken as an artist?
Honestly, the biggest leap of faith I took was probably when I submitted myself to the Colossal Media x Veuve Clicquot project. It was my first ever collaboration and I felt a bit of pressure (good pressure) to really create something impactful that people could relate to.
