Meet Ariel Davis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Davis.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas and have been making art since I was very young. During high school, I was lucky enough to have a teacher, Gloria Andrews, who invested a lot of time and effort into my education, and it was then that I became serious about being an artist.

I then attended the University of Texas at Austin for 4 years, studied abroad in Italy, and graduated with a BFA in 2010. After graduating, I moved back to Fort Worth and took a job as a gallery attendant at the Modern, which lasted about 3 or 4 months, quickly learning telling people “don’t touch the art” was not for me. However, I met many influential people though the museum (including members of Art Tooth), which in the long run has been very beneficial. I then started working at Milan Gallery in downtown Fort Worth, and while working there I continued to maintain my own studio practice painting and experimenting.

Then in 2013, I met a patron from St. Louis who paid me to paint full time for a year. It was a unique arrangement, where I painted and sent everything I made that year up to him to his collection. It was quite a gift and allowed me to really develop my style. After that year, I joined the Fort Worth Art Collective and started showing regularly in Fort Worth at many different venues. I also went back to work at Milan Gallery, and eventually took the Gallery Manager position for the Fort Worth Community Art Center’s satellite gallery, Art 7, located in the West 7th Cultural District. I was able to curate and work with many local Fort Worth and Dallas artists through the gallery. All the while, continuing to make my own artwork.

After my first solo show in 2016, I decided to leave both galleries to focus on my work, and also took an assistant position with an established artist here in Fort Worth. In the beginning of 2017, I was approached by Art Tooth, which was in the stages of becoming a non-profit, to become a board member. I accepted because I have a strong desire to help raise up other artists in the area. In the year since then, it has been a wild fun ride, throwing art events, giving grants, curating shows, working with the Modern and the Fort Worth Community Art Center on programming, and in general making and effort to get the public and businesses excited about, and connected with, the art community in Fort Worth. I have always continued my art practice, creating many commissions, and participating in over 20 shows, and this year was awarded “Best Artist – Reader’s Choice” in Fort Worth Magazine.

I think about my journey to where I am now (hopefully I have a way to go), and I can say that the people I have met along the way have been so important in helping shape my career. those people that have supported me, those that give advice, those that offer friendship, and those that criticize, they have all had an impact in helping me become a better artist.

Please tell us about your art.
I am naturally drawn to elements of composition and color when creating. I set out to experiment with those two elements in a variety of ways, through figurative painting, nonrepresentational painting, photography, and sculptural work. However, what I always come back to is figurative painting, and communicating the figure through composition and color. I like the idea of getting to the “truth” of someone through portraiture and doing it in a way this is very edited, meaning what all can I leave out while still communicating what I need to about this person, in this moment.

I recently set out to work on a series called “Women Solo”, which was inspired by a moment in my life when I had gone through a break up and found myself feeling really alone and uncomfortable being alone. Through this series, I wanted to talk about women being comfortable by themselves and with themselves.

As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
When I think about success as an artist now, I think about it in a very different way than when I was younger. I previously thought that to be successful as an artist- the ultimate goal was to end up in a museum, or have major show in New York or LA. I realize now that there are various levels of success and success means a lot of different things to a lot of people. Right now, success for me means just continuing to make work, and show what I am making as much as possible, and to offer support to my fellow artists as much as I can. I think the characteristic that is absolutely essential as an artist is perseverance, and the willingness to continue to create. Artists I would consider successful all have this in common.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
People who wish to see my work in person can follow the Fort Worth Art Collective for information on future shows. I know we have a few coming up in the DFW area. http://www.fwartcollective.com/.

My website – www.ariel-davis.com

IG: @arieldavisart

Facebook: @arieldavisfineart

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ariel-davis.com
• Email: artbyarieldavis@gmail.com
• Instagram: @arieldavisart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arieldavisfineart

Image Credit:
The photo of me standing with my back to the camera and with the gallery wall behind me was taken by Bernardo Vallarino.

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