Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Noyce.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Although I’d like to think that my story as unique, I tend to follow the heavily worn path that many other disillusioned artists have followed: Angry teenager from middle America (in my case, Utah) discovers art as a means of escape; attends art school; moves to Brooklyn; finds love; works at media companies; gets burnt out on New York; moves to Los Angeles.
But between the milestones, a lot of interesting things happen. I learn more about who I am and who I’m not. I meet some amazing, smart, passionate people along the way who teach me about grit, ethics, and beauty. I teach myself how to write programs and how to hack everyday devices. I reinvent my craft and what it means to be an artist. I establish a successful gallery with my partner, Katya. I show my work all over the world and I help others do the same.
Please tell us about your art.
Much of my current body of work relates to the access of truth, our perpetual search for it, and how difficult it is to obtain it. Getting to the essence of truth is increasingly important in the era of fake news and the personal public relations machine, for many insidious factions have ability to manipulate our personal narratives.
The works are divided into two parts: cyborg paintings and computer-programmed digital projections. Both address our perception of others, as filtered through the lens of our digital devices.
For the paintings, subjects are rendered by a computer using code that I wrote that leave subtle traces of the original source material, much like the distortion from a bad internet connection. The resulting computer-generated image is screen printed onto board, on top of which I apply traditional painting techniques.
For the video works, live data is manipulated by custom code that I write and is projected onto a screen or a monitor. The live stream image is either pixelated or distilled to pure abstraction, often leaving the subject unrecognizable. I use augmented reality to communicate how readily governments and corporations use individual’s personal information for their own means, mining their data indiscriminately without regard for the user.
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?
I don’t believe the role of the artist has changed, though I believe that art and art-making is exponentially more important these days. In addition to helping to visually manifest what we’re collectively thinking, the process of art-making also serves as a form of release for those who make it. Just the act of making is a form of rebellion, regardless of whether the work is political in nature.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a crisis of identity that is inspired by national events, particularly the role of the artist as a gentrifier and the exclusion of women/people of color in relevant exhibitions. No left-leaning artist wants to displace the downtrodden, but many are oblivious to their role as a colonizer or have divergent solutions for how to address gentrification. The underlying problems associated with the two tend to be related and their respective solutions are not mutually exclusive. The reality isn’t always so simple, and the solution will likely involve a combination of becoming better listeners, compromise, and accepting responsibility.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Thanks to the exposure I’ve received through my artist collective, Durden and Ray, I’ve shown extensively locally and internationally, with projects ranging from the gallery’s Arts District location, to Stockholm, Berlin, and later this year, Rome. I’ve also participated in various group endeavors with local galleries like LAST Projects in Lincoln Heights, Oxnard College, as well as the Other Places Art Fair in San Pedro.
The best ways to support me, or any artist for that matter include:
- Exhibit the artist’s work in a relevant show if you’re a curator
- Purchase the artist’s work if you have the means to become a benefactor
- Refer the artist if you’re a fellow creative
- Write about the artist’s work if you’re a journalist
- Share the artist’s work if you’re an influencer
- Show up for the artist’s openings if you’re any or none of the above
Contact Info:
- Address: 6727 7/8 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028 - Website: seannoyce.com
- Phone: 2129205934
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sean.noyce
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/seannoyce
- Other: www.noyskyprojects.com
Image Credit:
Sean Noyce
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