KYLE PETTY

We Must Exist Right Here, Right Now

My name is Kyle Petty (b. 1985, Washington, DC, USA) and I currently reside in Miami. Back in 2009 I earned a BA in Fashion Merchandising from Miami International University of Art and Design.

To me, as a practicing Buddhist, the theme “Here and Now” is central to my lifestyle. The  ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu is credited with the following quote: “If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.” In this unrelenting age of digital onslaught, I believe these words to be more true than ever before.

Making art in the contemporary world is incredibly fun, for me personally. I came to work with paper through my adolescent obsession with fashion and hip-hop magazines. The texture of the glossy pages and the smell of the ink are aspects I still appreciate in adulthood. As an military brat growing up in South Korea in the 1990s, before media companies became fully invested in the internet, magazines were the most efficient means of staying informed of what was happening back home in the United States. When I was 16 years old, my family returned to the States, and made Miami our home. It was during this transitional period that I decided to cover the walls of my bedroom with magazine pages—my very first collage (see below image).

Over the years, as a fashion merchandising student and later a fashion merchandising professional, I continued to purchase, read and collect magazines. Working in New York City there was something incredibly charming, almost romantic, about making purchases from the various newsstands throughout the city. I loved the aesthetic of carrying around the latests issue of Vogue or GQ, paired with whatever literature I was reading at the time. It made me feel sophisticated.

As a self-taught artist, my collage technique was developed through trial and error. During the pandemic, when I began to develop my catalog, I made many mistakes and trashed a lot of work. However, with time, my skills improved and my approach matured. My blade-work became masterful, glue sticks became my ally.

In general, my art is a satirical view of American society, through the lens of Black-American artist. Oftentimes topical issues like social economics, mental health, substance abuse and gun violence inform my creative processes. With that said, I suppose my motivation to make art in the contemporary world comes from wanting to inspire positive changes.

To the young people who are approaching art, I would highly recommend reading “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin. It was published in 2023 and makes me feel as if I have the very best creative coach in the world at my side.