Artist Highlight- Izzy

Naya • May 23, 2021

"Art to me is a freedom of expression no matter who it is or how it's done"

On April 9, 2021 I interviewed local Sacramento artist Izzy about his artist journey

-Naya Douglas

How old were you when you first started having an interest in art?

I was 5-6 years old when I started to have an interest in art. I started sketching random stuff at that age for fun or for my family.

What made you want to get into art?

There was always art around me. My dad used to draw really cool pictures when I was a kid and my mom and sister also are creative with art so I saw the people around me able to do certain stuff that caught my interest.

Who are some of your favorite artists and inspirations?

Some of my older favorite artists are Pablo Picasso and Basquiat, but my favorite artists today are Blue the Great, Bankrupt, Sacramento’s own Brandon Alexander & of course Shonna McDaniels

What are some of your favorite pieces that you’ve done?

Some of my favorite pieces that I have done in the past are the multiple murals I have worked on with Shonna McDaniels, David Washington & many more of the art family that we have had help us along the way. They all have meant alot to me because they have made an impact on the community in different ways.

How has your work evolved or changed over time?

My artwork has grown as I have grown over time. I’ve learned to do much more as far as my skills and abilities are considered. I have learned to work with paint also the more that I have been creating, both acrylic and oil.

Do you remember the first ever piece you’ve done?

The very first art piece I did, I think I was 5 or 6 and I drew a picture of Doig Christie for my big sister China. I did it because he was her favorite basketball player at the time and even though I wasn’t very skilled at drawing at the time she loved it and I think it made me want to keep creating more.

What does art mean to you personally? What does your art mean to you? How do you feel it has changed your life?

Art to me is a freedom of expression no matter who it is or how it's done, there are no limits or boundaries in the world of art. I feel like art has definitely changed my life for the better since I was younger. I would participate in Art Competitions for the Boys and Girls Club downtown, and I would win things for my family. As I got older I strayed from the art world and in a way lost the focus, then when I began getting back to creating artwork my life started to become more positive simultaneously.

Tell us about your pieces you have located in the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum.

I have 5 pieces in the Museum currently, the first being a set of 4 paintings named “The Right Thing”. The set is based off of Spike Lee’s movie Do The Right Thing. I have three seperate pieces that I collaborated with David Washington; Henry in the Box, Sarah Baartman, and Henrietta Lacks. All three of these pieces were created to bring education of our history to the attention of our people. The last piece I made was the ‘BLM Then & Now’ Banner. I made this to show that the Black Lives Matter movement is an extension of the Civil Rights movement, and that this has been a long as well as important process.

Instagram: izzysartpage

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17 Apr, 2024

Embark on a journey of discovery through the rich tapestry of African heritage with SOJO's newly launched digital collections portal, managed and supported by our dedicated Archivist, Aisha Abdul Rahman. With this innovative platform powered by Omeka, researchers, scholars, and enthusiasts can now access our digital archives from anywhere in the world.

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