We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tobias Fike. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tobias below.
Hi Tobias, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Do you ever, really? I think it is more of an understanding that most people seem to have it so you become more comfortable with it. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. In some ways, I’ve grown to appreciate it. I believe it is a sign of truly caring about what you do and wanting to be better at it. I also have this aspect of myself that takes a kind of deviant pride in being an imposter, just faking my way through life. Of course time helps tremendously with this. At the beginning of any career you have to fake it more. We have all heard that. However, as you do something more and more, your confidence within that grows and you understand and recognize our expertise in the field. You can always learn more but you also see what you bring to the table as a professional. You can trust yourself as your dedication to your profession develops over years.
As a contemporary artist, I now work at just being who I am and making the kind of art I want. I know it’s not for everyone and I also have to accept my imperfections and general messiness as part of me and be ok with those qualities showing up in the work because it feels the most truthful and honest. As a younger artist, I tried to be versions of other artists I admired, and of course I’m continuously influenced by so many, but in the end, I really can only make and do the things that feel true to me.
All this said, I still have the voice in my head that causes doubt and compares me to others but I can ignore it, most days.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m an artist and educator, I teach art at the college level in Denver, Colorado and have my own active art practice. I love art because it is completely up to me as to what I spend my time doing with it. I can bring my own interests and curiosity into the things I make and do. There is such a freedom, and truly a privilege, in that ability. I also am fortunate enough to be a professor of art at an art college. I did not set out to teach art but I was able to student teach while getting my MFA and began finding an appreciation for it. It took me some time after grad school, however, to really find my passion for it. Now I can hardly imagine not being an educator.
My art is idea driven. I am multidisciplinary but lean toward video, performance, photo, and installation. I have a micro/macro approach to the work, looking at deeply personal narratives as well as much more expansive topics around the infinite expanse that is the cosmos. I also look to combine comedy and tragedy within the work. I feel like is complicated and both realities are a big part of existence and certainly my personality.
As I write this, I have a group show I am part of at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art that will open soon. I also have a few other Denver located exhibitions in the work. Anyone interested can follow me on IG to keep updated.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Persistence, maybe call it stubbornness, seems the most useful. It is very easy to give up when following a creative career but keeping at it is what separates those who are doing it from those who aren’t. It is also one of the only things I can really control. I make my art work even when there isn’t a specific show or place for it to go. The practice keeps me moving forward and I believe that energy finds its way to creating opportunities.
2. Not fearing failure. I fail all the time, and of course I don’t like it, but I know that I can’t let that fear stop me. I also know I will learn from those mistakes and can get better in any area if I acknowledge them and move on.
3. Vulnerability. I am fairly private and keep a lot to myself but I do look for ways to be vulnerable in my art making. I try to address the parts of my self that are uncomfortable but feel most honest. I have made art work about losing a best friend, the death of family members, my own insecurities on even being an artist, and some generally unflattering looks at myself.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I’m lucky to have a team of people. I have relied on so many friends, family members, and teachers to help me through my life and career journeys. And, really, it is too many to mention but I would hope those people know who they are. I certainly make an effort to let them know, but I’m sure not as much as I should.
I think it really takes a team, for at least most people. I know I am fortunate to have that support and help in all kinds of ways. I also recognize not everyone has that but you can build those support systems through school, friends, and colleagues. I work at being a support and help to others because I see how it has benefited me. I want to provide that same sort of help to others who need it.
Contact Info:
- Website: tobiasfike.com
- Instagram: @tobiasfike
Image Credit:
Wes Magyar
