Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jeffries Moore aka Muotaji. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jeffries, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
As an artist it can be quite a challenge to achieve success and recognition for your creative talents. Artist often see the world differently than most and can come across as odd. This was especially true of me being a person of color from an urban area that is not often exposed to the cultural nuances of more privileged communities. However, I realized from an early age that art and creativity are apart of me and that I would not feel complete without these forms of expression in my life. As I grew, I also saw that out-of-the-box thinking is what has contributed to history’s greatest endeavors. Also, I later came across mentors who gave me the inspiration to keep going despite setbacks.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My story begins with a love for the art of storytelling. As a child, most nights I couldn’t sleep without a story being read to me by my mother. As I grew I became self aware of my situation- being a young black man in South-Central Los Angeles. Everyday was a struggle to survive. However, as I attended school in more diverse and affluent areas I saw that environment played a major part on what you’re exposed to and what opportunities may be easier to come by.
Despite the challenges I persisted in my creative endeavors and pursued a career in architecture. That experience later took me to New York where I served at an educational center that produced films for community outreach. While there, I met people from all over the world who were fascinated by the stories of where I came from and my experiences.
That work environment was also a springboard for my travel to Africa, which was a lifelong dream. Since a young age I was fascinated by African Wildlife. After having a night safari I had a dream that night about rendering that dark and dangerous world on canvas. I also pondered how that dangerous world reminded me so much of the Urban Jungle I grew up in. From there my work as the artist Muotaji (Swahili: The Dreamer) was born.
After serving as a Production Designer for several years in New York, I have returned to built upon my art and immerse myself in the art world. I want my artwork to tell stories and to be motivational and inspiring to everyone who has had to overcome challenges. We are all in survival mode in one way or another.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
KNOWLEDGE- I have an insatiable thirst for learning new things. The things I learn inspired me to create. I have never had a creative block or have ran out of ideas. I find that I often have more ideas than time.
EXPOSURE- My favorite place in New York was the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I even volunteered as a tour guide there. I also frequented all the art museums and galleries across the Tri-State area. When traveling to other countries visiting museums was always a priority. I’ve probably visited over 100 museums and galleries in my lifetime. The image reservoir from those experiences I often call upon for inspiration when creating my work.
MENTORSHIP- Quite often, especially if we feel we already have wisdom or talent, we want to receive all the credit and do everything on our own. For me, I compared my journey to the flight of an eagle with that of a pigeon. A pigeon flaps his wings vigorously and burns a lot of energy only not to get very far. However, an eagles soars effortlessly by looking for hot air currents in the atmosphere to float on. Mentors and those of wisdom are like those hot air currents. They showed me the path and motivated me when I was low.
My advice to any creative is… KEEP GOING! If creativity is apart of you keep producing work. Surround yourself with positivity and mentors who will move you forward and help you achieve your dreams.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’m looking to collaborate with Gallerists, Curators, and Educational/Cultural centers. I want to share stories, motivate, and inspire with my art. These entities and institutions are the partnerships that will empower me to do that. If you would like to collaborate with me please reach me at: [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.muotaji.com
- Instagram: @muotaji
Image Credits
Jeffries Moore aka Muotaji
