Meet Nicholas Gully

We recently connected with Nicholas Gully and have shared our conversation below.

Nicholas, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

As I spend my time in creative spaces: museums, kunsthalles, and local art festivals my career thrives by socializing. In those times, how I’m perceived by those around me creates a childhood-rooted excitement for me to engage with my atmosphere fully. I could potentially be someone’s first encounter with a millenial professional black male artist! One of my metrics for artistic growth is communication and I enjoy introducing myself around an unfamiliar room. Speaking to others who look unalike myself allows me to use congeniality to not only network but “chop it up” with strangers while earning notoriety with unfamiliar local artists, creative institutions and business owners.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Firstly, this opportunity where I’m given a platform to share my path publicy is one of the many reasons that make this current point in artistic journey so special. Thank you team. Currently I am a Fine Artist with concentrated practices through both photography and painting. I’ve been dominating my goals as far selling artwork, qualifying for open calls and even commissioning my contemporaries for their works! Its an outstanding feeling to purchase works from your friends. My latest and greatest achievement has been earning my careers first artist grant from the Dallas Museum of Art earlier this month.

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?

Oo excellent question, I think the three areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey has been creative/self-awareness, industry mindfulness, and lastly art/life balance. In my experience, if I never understood where the beating heart of my creativity rests, I could have never produced any Fine Art. I could make and craft excellent ideas and concepts but to create those designs and processes, I caused myself fatigue and burnout in the initial semesters of practicing art. You need to learn or teach yourself how to turn an idea or feeling into artwork, start to exhibit.

Next, it was important to decide where I fit within our wonderful art realm. Do I turn to the public and hit the streets? Or do I hit the fine-art white-wall galleries? I could have forced my artwork in spaces where it is unpopular and niche or I could have found local artists that visually complimented my style. Not understanding where you should show further complicates how you are found.

Lastly, art/life balance. You can create a life sustained by your artistry! Until then we need to live in conditions where we produce and rest. Yes, life’s extremities reveal our willpower and limits but toward your careers trajectory, it simply is not sustainable.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes of course. I am always open to forming partnership for my projects. Currently, if I could reach an illustrator that would be available for commission for figure sketches that would be cool. Or if I met a documentary focused photographer that could narrate my achievements as I continue to emerge, that would also be very cool too. The best way to connect with me would to search me up on Instagram. First and last name.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thecaptain.bigcartel.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicholasgully/

Image Credits

Michelle Teresa Taylor @chellenobelle