For the Homies: A Studio Visit with Moe Gram
Written by Kristopher Wright | info@odessadenver.com
12.1.2016
(Denver CO) Moe Gram is a force to be reckoned with.
Born and raised in southern California, Moe’s practice finds its roots in the potent street, Hip-Hop, and art scenes which emerged out of Los Angeles in the early 1990’s. This combined with form, line, and color reminiscent of cartoons such as Ren and Stimpy and Rocko’s Modern Life; Moe’s work is an abstract retrospective of the very things that have made us who we are today.
“As we grow older, we slowly become numb to the various colors that illuminate our world. Our pallets become muted and neutral to reflect our monochromatic routines and lifestyles. My most recent works are abstractions of the polychromatic perspective we enjoyed as children. It visually represents the outbursts of guilty giggles and mischievous creativity…”
At the end of a grueling election season, Gram, like many artists, has found herself at a crossroad. As a community partner with the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Metro-Denver, she explains how regionalism and politics are quickly emerging as some of the most dominant topics on the minds of today’s youth. “It really made me begin to question what this new shift means for me as an artist. How do I stay true to the work I’m making when there’s so much to unpack? So, I’m taking this opportunity to reflect on the importance of artists engaging in their communities and how we create dialogue from the uneasiness of the time we’re in.”
Working across multiple disciplines, Moe’s work is both unmistakable and nearly impossible to describe. Fragments of past sculptural work are often repurposed to become bright new paintings, pieces of clothing are adhered to surfaces to create multi-dimensional collaged textures, and old film strips and other found objects birth new ways of printmaking. Moe’s work is not just a part of who she is, it’s the very evidence of a life lived with intention and an unwavering desire to investigate the world around her.
“I think it’s ALL about the process of becoming… I think a lot about how important it is for me to encourage growth in myself to be the best person that I can be while also encouraging and cultivating that in others. Now I’m arriving at a place where I feel comfortable letting others in on the process of my art and my experience.”
Moe Gram attended California State University Bakersfield where she received her BA in Fine Art and Minored in Cultural studies. She is also the founder of Homie Haus, a brand new platform which brings local artists and makers together to create unique and affordable home goods. “At Homie Haus we look forward to experimentation & collaboration; we value the lives of our peers; as well as growth within ourselves. We are committed to being open-minded, pushing the boundaries set before us, living lives with no limits, and providing work to artists of all mediums. “
Click Here to learn more about Moe and Homie Haus
For the year of 2018 we hosted Curatorial Residency at Collective SML K; (pronounced Collective “Small K”) a studio/gallery run by artist Sammy Lee in the Art District on Santa Fe.