Marcus Venegas

Year of birth: 2001
Where do you live: Currently in Manhattan New York
Your education: Earning my Masters degree at The New York Academy of Art (earned my BFA at the University of Texas at Austin)
Describe your art in three words: Lyrical, Honest, and Vulnerable
Website | Instagram

Your work often delves into autobiographical memory and the concept of the ‘remembering self.’ Can you explain how you incorporate this psychological theory into your artwork, and how it shapes your storytelling process?

Memories are sacred and stories are told differently by every person depending how we remember those memories. Most of my process starts with poetry inspired by these vulnerable moments of which marked themselves as a core memory. Using that as a foundation to immerse myself into the impulsive pictorial language I then execute. Channeling myself with music, as well as (occasionally) smoking cannabis, i truly feel connected to the unique language and universe I created for myself conceptually.

The use of symbolic materials like cigarette ash and the act of burning your pieces is central to your art. What does this process represent for you, and how does it contribute to the themes of impermanence and transformation in your work?

The flame not only represents that fiery passion of love that exists in a relationship, but also reflects that dangerous desire that comes with love. It burns and feels so good to burn, but hurts so bad, even though I know what fire is capable of. Even Though I know what’s going to happen, it’s inevitable. It slowly eats away at me and burns through, gradually revealing my vulnerability. Leaving holes that act as glimpses of memories that are permanently stained like a tattoo, left as a reminder of what once was. The cigarette coincides with the flame that symbolizes that obsessive nature that love can carry. Once too reliant on it, becomes dependent and addicting. However, once the flame is out, and once the cigarette is dead, only smoke is left, and I will be left dumbstruck and alone.

How does your identity as a gay Mexican-American influence the way you approach your art, especially when it comes to the themes of love, trauma, and memory?

Queer/POC people experience life differently, obviously. Not necessarily only in a political sense, but historically, we’ve learned to love in secrecy. Meeting up places, and hiding away from others, as if it’s a “Romeo and Juliet” forbidden love complex. This tension leads to passion and true intimacy. These interactions however may be traumatic and not so lovely. These experiences are empathized within the gay community and universally unite us through relatability. Capturing moments such as these, through art, is significant.

You mention using black-and-white drawings to convey honesty and truth. How do you feel these colors impact the emotional tone of your pieces?

I am not opposed to color, in fact, color was a big part of my earlier practice. However, my work is ever evolving, just like any artist. As I started delving deeper into my story and seriousness of my work, I realized that my use of color felt forced and unauthentic to what I was making. This then led to the transition of using solely black and white. It was non-distracting, cut straight to the point, and felt justified toward the narrative. It’s emotional and further pushes the raw vulnerability I try to convey.

Your work has been described as ‘artistic activism.’ Can you tell us more about how activism is embedded in your creative process and how it serves as a tool for social change?

I hope to create a feeling of relatability by beautifying the disturbing. There is a need for more queer art, and having the privilege of making art for my community to bond with is very special and dear to my heart. My goal is not to change our political environment, but to create a sense of safety and empathy for the community. Using my art as a tool of awareness, rather than a harsh statement that comes off aggressive.

With your exploration of the theatricality of romance, how do you balance personal vulnerability and universal themes in your art?

Personal vulnerability and artistic expression are nearly the same concept to me. Being able to pour my heart into writing and then into pictorial poetry reflects how I felt at a specific moment in time, thus creating denotative documentation of the chronology of my life. What I feel and create now does not reflect what I will feel and create in the future. Everything is about “now”. If I feel tense or contain a strong sense of desolation, that will translate with my work through intense mark-making, heavier compositions, etc. While other emotions might lead to a lighter and angelic approach.

How do you see your work evolving over the next few years? Are there new mediums or themes you’re eager to explore?

I’m open to anything and everything that presents itself to me in time. I’ve been using cannabis ash lately as a substitute for cigarette ash to tell the same story. My work, as mentioned above, is forever evolving. I see myself working larger as well as honing in on an intimate size. I’ve noticed myself incorporating more graphite into my work, and the need to render a bit more than before. Lots of exciting new stuff to come in the near future.