Today we’d like to introduce you to Tristan Flanigan.
Born in 1986, Tristan started pursuing art early in life, as a kid painting everything from model cars, action heroes, or just creating art with his mother. He had a love for art very early in life. Tristan’s family was already filled with amazing artist, his mother, grandfather, and Uncle were all artists that helped him with his craft. He had early recognition within his city of Omaha having his works displayed at local art galleries and museums, Joslyn Art museum being one he frequently had his work displayed.
After high school going to college, Tristan explored his artistic abilities, even more, he tried new mediums, pushed his creativeness and made new discoveries about himself artistically. Sadly, he wasn’t serious about his craft, college, then having a family at a young age resulted in Tristan just doing art as a hobby not as a career, although he was still getting a request for custom paintings his life led him to believe that art wasn’t his calling. After a 10-year marriage and two kids, Tristan realized that he has to do what he loves to make him happy and give to the people what they want, he chose to be an artist. After moving to Dallas, to start anew, he quickly hit the scene and has since made a name for himself on the Dallas art scene.
These days, Tristan is one of the most prominent artists, models, and creatives working today. Tristan’s respect and love of women can be seen in his paintings, his love for his culture can also be seen throughout his work. Tristan is also a great muralist combining his artistic mind and love for large pieces he creates large murals using acrylic spray paint and acrylic paints. Combining his love for his culture and knowledge of art he creates amazing visual works that tell a story and connect with the viewer. His future is bright with plans to continue to push his abilities Tristan will be the first to tell you there is nothing I cannot do with patience and perseverance. He has plans to open up his first gallery, NounArtworks, within the next year in Dallas! Tristan’s work can be seen at The People’s Last stand Dallas, Killeen, Tx, Omaha, Ne and soon London, UK.
Please tell us about your art.
My artwork is inspired by women, Black culture, and the history of the creative mind. Art is expression, the expression of the human mind in color and/or shapes. My art is an expression of love and beauty that I want people to feel but also think about, what is beauty to them? I create this by utilizing the people and events happening in the world today. Women are always a focal point in my work because I believe they are the glue to this universe; the woman is everything, and she is a force to be respected.
I want to give women the strength and knowledge that they are special and control so much in this world. Using mainly acrylic and oils, I love to portray women in sophisticated positions showing both beauty and power they possess. When someone looks at my art, I want them to feel the power and respect the beauty of the subject. Black women are always going to be one of my main subjects because they are the strongest and most beautiful to me. Growing up watching my mother and being surrounded by strong creative, smart, black women I quickly realized that they are amazing in every way and if I can show that to the world through my art then I have to do so with class and respect. I want Black women to know their worth by looking at my artwork, know their history, and know their future, as a black man it is essential that I give my black sisters my love and respect. And using my artwork is one way that I can succeed at this.
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?
The role of an artist has changed drastically due to the rise of quick entertainment and the lack of individual thought. Artists are supposed to raise awareness or make a statement with their art as well as entertain, but recently many artists have fallen to the rise of quick validation and entertainment art. I have been affected by this because I sometimes will turn down certain requests because of the subject they want me to paint, I find it a waste of time for me if the artwork has no true meaning and is just to follow a trend. Trendy artwork is just like the trend it will only last so long, and I am trying to create art that is timeless.
Living in the world today trends are always coming and going, and it’s easy to get caught up in the trendy topics, but as they exist so do topics and issues that have been around for decades. Equal rights, civil rights, women rights, pollution, income equality, oil and gas dependency, human rights, war, plus a slew of positive things that are happening every day that artists have a choice to choose from. Being an artist is a god given ability, to be able to communicate thoughts and ideas visually in a manner that only you possess is a talent that many wish they had. It is a huge responsibility to have as an artist, and I affects me every time I draw, paint, or think of my next piece. I want people to know that it took thought and knowledge to create my works, not just a trend.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Find my work at The People’s Last Stand Dallas, TX. Hector’s Barbershop Killeen, TX. Epoca Cantina Omaha, Ne
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tristanflanigan.com
- Phone: 2106081667
- Email: tristan@tristanflanigan.com
- Instagram: @therealtris, @nounartworks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tristan.flanigan
- Twitter: @tris_1of1
Image Credit:
Kristoff Jones of Spirit Vibes Productions
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