Today we’d like to introduce you to Caya Crum.
Hi Caya, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have been creating artwork since I can remember. I was born and raised in Fort Worth and currently attend TCU. I started selling my work when I was fourteen and haven’t stopped since. During the school year, I go around the state with my family who are also artists to sell my work. We have participated in various art shows and festivals in the past such as Christmas in Cowtown, The Fort Worth Stockshow and Rodeo, the Houston Stockshow and Rodeo, Marburger and The Arbors at Roundtop, The Austin Junior League, King William Fair, and The Armadillo Art Bazaar. In addition to this, I have been commissioned to paint several murals across Fort Worth and I am constantly working on custom work for people in Fort Worth and beyond.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think it is important to always be open and ready for change as an artist. My practice is constantly evolving and I have seen even since arriving to TCU how much the art I create has changed in the past three years. After graduating, I hope to continue to grow my art practice- the sky is the limit!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work explores traditional American western iconography through a modern lens alongside fashion and pop art. Using vibrant colors such as hot pink, I introduce reoccurring characters and motifs such as smoking cowboys, eggs, UFOs, and dreamy desert landscapes. My work plays with nostalgia and reinvention, drawing inspiration from past American painters such as Frederic Remington and Georgia O’Keeffe, in addition to old frontier photographs. By exaggerating the drama and aesthetics of the West; neon skies, unconventional situations such as cowboys delivering baguettes, and a diverse array of cowboys and cowgirls- I both celebrate and challenge the mythology surrounding it. Whether it is a handful of French fries or a playful homage to thrifted fashion, the juxtaposition surrounding my scenes causes viewers to rethink stereotypes surrounding the American Southwest.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am always open to create commissioned work for individuals! People usually reach out to my via my instagram or email and let me know of any ideas they have and then we work together to create a custom work for them to hang in their home or as a gift! In addition to the art fairs and festivals I sell at with my family, I also host an array of pop-up events throughout the year at local shops or smaller scale 1-2 day market events (I usually post these on my instagram!).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cayacrum.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyitscaya/
Image Credits
None
