Story & Lesson Highlights with David Paul Kay of New York City

We recently had the chance to connect with David Paul Kay and have shared our conversation below.

Hi David Paul, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
When I’m creating, time dissolves, hours vanish into moments, and space itself ceases to exist. There’s only the rhythm of the process, the flow, and I am completely absorbed in it. In those stretches of immersion, nothing else matters, it is as if I step outside of ordinary existence.

Then, suddenly, I surface. I take a step back and see the work before me, a piece still in progress, yet already alive. It speaks to me, quietly suggesting what the next brushstroke should be. That dialogue with the canvas pulls me back in, and once again I lose myself, only to find myself anew, again and again, within the infinite cycle of creation.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is David Paul Kay, and I am a visual artist. My practice is rooted in monochromatic line work, a language I have been developing for years as a way to explore balance, duality, and the invisible threads that connect us all. What makes my work unique is not just the imagery itself, but the philosophy behind it, the belief that creation is both a personal meditation and a universal form of communication.

My journey began with small drawings that slowly evolved into large-scale murals and installations around the world. Each piece is not only an artwork, but also an extension of my story, a dialogue between myself, the canvas, and the people who encounter it.

At the heart of my work is the idea of transformation. I believe art has the power to dissolve boundaries, to remind us of our shared humanity, and to bring people into a space of reflection and wonder. Right now, I am focused on expanding this vision through new projects that bridge fine art with public space, creating experiences that are both intimate and collective.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that truly shaped how I see the world was when I moved to New York City 17 years ago. I had never felt so aligned with the universe as I did when I arrived here, it was as if I had found my true home. The frequency of the city resonated with the frequency of my own being, and for the first time I felt that I truly belonged.

That moment activated something within me, it awakened my vision, the way I perceive the world, people, and life itself. Ever since, New York has been more than a place, she has been my teacher, my guide, my mentor, and my home.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
There is a quote I once heard that has stayed with me, and I wish I knew who to credit for it. It says, “Success is not owned, it is rented, and the rent is due every day.” It is one of the most truthful and profound statements I have ever come across.

I do not like to dwell on suffering itself, as it can easily become an anchor that keeps you from moving forward. Instead, I try to appreciate what I have endured and what those experiences have transformed into. A sword does not become sharp without hours of fire and hammer, and only then is it ready for battle. I see myself in that same process.

Growing up during a civil war, facing difficult experiences in my youth, and navigating struggles in my teens and early twenties, all of these challenges shaped me into who I am today. I hold no resentment for them, only gratitude. It is that fire which gave me clarity, resilience, and the ability to embrace the present moment fully.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I believe the public version of me is real, though at times I notice a disconnect between what people perceive and who I truly am. I project my authentic self in public, yet when that self is filtered through the lens of social media, press, or other external narratives, it often becomes something else. People tend to label, categorize, or try to place me into a box, but I am more than just one thing, as we all are.

If you want to see the truest version of me, the one beyond labels and stereotypes, you will find it in my art. That is where I am most unfiltered, most honest, and most complete.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I close my eyes and step into the universe within, allowing myself, even for a moment, to ignore the noise of the world around me. The inner world of imagination is an extraordinary place, at least for me. In our daily lives we are constantly overwhelmed by headlines, news, and countless triggers, yet we carry within us a profound gift given by God, and that is the mind.

Not the brain, but the mind, and when I connect the two, I find a state of ultimate peace within myself. From that inner stillness, I can then project peace outward into the world around me.

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