We recently had the chance to connect with Chris Potts and have shared our conversation below.
Chris, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I am an extremely proud father of two baby boys. My first born son Lincoln is 18 months old and learning to paint alongside his Dada. Our newest addition Cyrus is expected next month! I am so happy to have a little family following me around everywhere and making art!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Chris Potts, a painter whose work explores emotion, memory, and the ways we process experience through imagery and color. My art is deeply connected to representing the inner worlds of neurodivergent people. Those who often find it difficult to communicate how they feel in words need representation.
Through painting, I try to give form to that unspoken language using texture, gesture, and symbolism to make the invisible visible. Each piece is a kind of translation of feeling, built from both control and chaos, where intuition leads my hand.
I’m currently developing a new body of work that dives deeper into these themes by exploring how we can understand each other through visual expression when language falls short.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was truly myself. Creative, curious, and bright! I did not care what people thought of me because of the innocence of my own thoughts generating love for all others. I learned to shut that off, not to trust others, and to repress creativity.
I guess I am just not very good at keeping that down in the recesses of my mind! It seems to burst forth, commanding me to create.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of being rejected has held me back the most. And you know what? It’s unnecessary. Rejections is GOING to happen. If you get rejected, move on to the next thing and you will find a place that accepts you. It’s very hard to get to this point so I expect, much like myself, that it will take a bit of dawdling to finally get there.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
The current public version of me is the only person that exists as me. Recently I was diagnosed with ASD meaning that for most of my life i have masked myself in public to “fit in” and not appear as “the weird kid”. I have spent my entire life masking my inner self due to society’s constraints which has led to an inner turmoil and divergence from normal social standards.
Currently, I am removing that filter so that I can experience the world as my inner, true self, and the world can see me as I really am. Creative, Curious, Loving, and Bright.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I pretty much live my life by this timeline! I am currently building my art skills, and a teaching curriculum that will come to fruition in the next 5-10 years. I hope to begin this process into a churning machine that allows students of all backgrounds to come and foster their artistic ability. EVERYONE can do art, it is a learned skill like driving, riding a bike, walking, etc.
I firmly believe this.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chrispotts.com
- Instagram: @chrispottsart
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/chrispottsart
- Other: Tiktok: @chrispottsart
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
