Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Pham.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I am an epileptic New York born artist that has been a North Texas transplant for the better part of 3 decades. I was never a very adept student, so I spent most of my childhood skateboarding, poring over old comic books and drawing whenever I could never really taking art seriously. Doing it only as a hobby and nothing more.
Flash forward to 2011 when I had received a random Facebook message that ended up putting me in my first show. I have been doing art ever since.
Please tell us about your art.
The art I usually create is comic book or pop culture-inspired paintings and portraits done in acrylics. I do a little bit of multimedia And re-directed at here and there as well.
My inspirations come from the movies that I watched and the music that I listened to Saturday morning cartoons and cereal and skateboarding with friends.
I supposed I started creating out of boredom and now I do for the just sheer joy of being able to create something from the pain that is a result of having 3 or 4 seizures every morning, so it’s pretty therapeutic in that sense.
For me at least when I’m am painting or creating something I am able to forget about the physical pain and just disappear into my music, and everything ends up being a little better in the end. Yup. Therapeutic.
However, I recently shifted my focus to a rather ambitious Epilepsy Awareness Art Project in which I have people pour paint on top of my body while I am having convulsions on top of large format raw canvas.
The whole process is documented and safe. This is a collaborative effort by myself and a handful of other artists in DFW.
We are planning on donating these unique pieces to various hospitals and epilepsy charities across the U.S. Our end goal is to eventually be able to auction of these pieces in a gallery setting with 100% of the proceeds going to raise funds for research and support for families that are struggling with Epilepsy and its side effects.
Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
Wow. That’s a pretty loaded question with so many different types of art and artists to explore.
For me, at least the role of the artist has not changed. The role of art and artists had always been to create and to inspire. To instill thought and wonder. In that sense, we are each and every one of us entertainers through our separate distilled mediums. Whether it’s a gorgeous landscape that takes you to a different world or a political satire meant to incite revolt the role of the artist is the same.
To invoke thought, wonder, amazement or disgust the job remains the same.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
People can see my usual work on Instagram and Facebook.
I regularly show my fanart at Chocolate & Art and Pancakes and Booze DFW.
If anyone is interested in seeing and/or supporting the Epilepsy Awareness Art Project, please follow my new IG @epilepsyawareness 76.
Contact Info:
- Address: Epilepsy awareness art project on Instagram @epilepsyawareness75
- Phone: 16822413949
- Email: phamanthony@rocketmail.com
- Instagram: @epilepsyawarenessartproject
- Facebook: funtasticfanart76
Image Credit:
Prototype sponsorship: Javier Arrendondo @VatoLocoTattooStudio.com
Filming/Photo Credits: Sara Salih @sararosesalih
Marla Arrendondo @microblading_marla
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
