Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Julian Guyton of Chicago, IL

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Julian Guyton. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Julian , thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I believe that others are secretly struggling with trying to find themselves/their role here on Earth. I believe everyone be wants to be remembered however these days it seems harder to set yourself apart due to rising prices and various laws being passed in the US. Unfortunately people live and keep moving forward despite these negative changes but the trade off is that people yearn for freedom but yet still do things that doesn’t fulfill that need.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Julian “JUJU” Guyton is a fractalist artist from Chicago, IL and the creative mind behind collective [MNGO.S]. His use of bold, vivid colors, as well as his subject matter, mixed seamlessly with use of text sets him apart from any other artist. He has traveled across the US, showcasing his work in various “Art Battle” competitions. His paintings give an intense, yet intriguing vibe, visually walking you through the mind of “JUJU”, unraveling various life experiences.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I feel it’s not just one moment but moments that helped shape how I view the world all came from traveling. I believe that traveling is the true way to learn because the struggles you might consider to be big at home, can be very little somewhere else. What we decide to put value you, a lot of people might not see as important and vice versa. I think from that, I judged my world as the US and my world within that is me. The “world” I live in you have to pursue happiness and opportunity because it’s what true freedom is. I only obtained this perspective shift once I began to see what people across the US struggled with or the way day to day life was lived in a city opposite of mine.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Almost every other month in my career I want to give up, however I don’t. I feel I’ve come so far in my career yet I still have so much further to go. Being 28, I’ve experienced so much and have so much more to see. I think that a lot of times people want to live their dreams out so much that they don’t see the realities of life that go hand and hand with chasing your dreams. It gets extremely hard and truthfully, not everyone is built for a road like this and that’s ok. The times when things are bad, they are bad; but the times when they are good they are the best moments of my life. I weigh this out everyday when I contemplate stoping but I get a compliment on my work, a new viewer, or new motivation and it sparks a new fire under me that helps me to keep going. I know I’m on the right path for my life. That’s what I feel also keeps me from quitting; either that or craziness, but name one genius that isn’t crazy!

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Believe it or not but the public version of me is the real me. Some might think it’s an amplified version of me but unlike most artist , I don’t put up a facade. I let my work speak for itself and I put name to face. Most artist I feel spend so much time perfecting their craft that when it’s time to be human and interact, 9 times out of 10 they don’t know how to be around people. The perception someone might have of you because of your art can really shift if as a person you aren’t the same.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Absolutely nothing. If life were to end in 10 years for me, I’d just continue to live as if it weren’t. I don’t think you should put this doomsday countdown on your life because fear and caution holds you back from so much that life has to offer. It would be a different way to live I’m sure but to stop what I’m doing? I don’t see how it would make sense when there is no true way to predict when it’s your time to go from earth. It can be within that 10 years. It could be tomorrow. Overall just live life with no regrets and watch how things happen for you.

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