Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Jacob, Soul Kontroller.
Andrew, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I got peed on by a tiger when I was 10 at the Bronx Zoo. At the time I really didn’t know what had happened, it was around the time those super soaker water guns had come out in the late 80’s early 90’s and at first, I thought it was one of those things, I was visiting my aunt in NYC for the summer and I loved animals so much she took me there for the day. The place is amazing. Anyhow, yeah next thing I knew I get this blast of tiger urine lazar beamed right at my face. You see they had this female tiger on display in a small cage out of her natural habitat while they were doing work on it, she must have got agitated by the crowd around her and I got caught in the crosshairs. On that same day walking around the streets of the Bronx and NYC my love of graffiti art caught fire. I didn’t understand it. What it said, what it meant, it didn’t matter, it was what I was going to practice in note pads and drawing books until I was good enough to put it up on walls myself. Through my love and obsession of Graffiti Art over the last 30 years it’s taken me on countless journeys on train tracks, sketchy neighborhoods, abandoned buildings and into the depths of countless art history books.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
It’s like that Flaming Lips song says ” Do you realize that everyone you know someday will die, and instead of saying all of your goodbyes, let them know you realize that life goes fast It’s hard to make the good things last. I try to make art that is fun to look at and make. I want to enjoy the process of making art, loosing myself in the process and ending up with something cool that’s going to inspire or brighten up someone’s day. Life, people, our feelings and our planet can be so delicate at times. Don’t be a dick, be nice to everyone, even all the assholes you encounter day to day, you don’t know other people’s struggles, a lot of people’s life’s suck, so if you’re in the position to help someone in the smallest way do it.
How can artists connect with other artists?
For me to be an artist and create really great art you really have to be honest with yourself, you have to look deep within and put something out there for everyone to either love, hate or criticize and that’s not easy. It takes a long time to develop a unique style, thicken your skin and tell your true story through imagery, song, dance, film etc. It’s great to find inspiration in books, online and through friends but I feel like once you have achieved a unique and true portrayal of yourself it’s easy to create and connect with other artists. Humbled through the process of life they see you for who you are and you appreciate other people’s stories, visions and outlook on life as well. Pay attention to the people who pay attention to you.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Out on the outer Cape where I live, in a small wooded seaside town know as Wellfleet you can catch my art in galleries, restaurants, the sides of food trucks, skateparks, and mischievously installed along forest paths and beach trails. Recently I just scored a cool project with Fox making art for a new TV show “The Gifted” it’s an X-Men kind of series. I’m always painting murals as well for businesses and Music Festivals like the upcoming Levitate Music Fest in Marshfield, MA.
I’m also about to paint a mural for a new Vintage style arcade in Nantasket Beach called Paragon Boardwalk, the place looks amazing, go for the day, play some video games and enjoy the beach. Ohhh yeah… almost forgot to mention my wife her sister and I run a pretty rad Gallery out here on Cape Cod as well called ARTichoke. Well they run the boutique and all the serious stuff and I just help a little with the Gallery end of things but yeah, we have a lot of serious talent rolling through this summer, so c’mon out and catch a vibe.
Contact Info:
- Address: Wellfleet, Cape Cod
- Website: www.SoulKontroll.com
- Phone: (617) 343-4240
- Email: andrew@soulkontroll.com
- Instagram: @soulkontroller
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/soulkontroll
- Twitter: @soulkontroll
- Other: Soulkontroll.bigcartel.com
Image Credit:
.Justin Lynch
.House of Roulx
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