Daily Inspiration: Meet Marcus Dawson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcus Dawson

Hi Marcus, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always longed to be an artist but didn’t feel there was a place for me in the art world. Those feelings soon changed when I found collage art during the pandemic. I was having a hard time emotionally with the lock down and stress from work. I felt I just needed a creative outlet. I went to the store and got a bunch of magazines and books that sparked my interest and imagination. I went home and began to create collages. At that moment I felt I tapped into apart of myself that I didn’t know existed. I felt I could fully process my emotions through collage art, and it was so freeing. What started out as one collage turned into an entire body of work.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road hasn’t always been smooth when it pertains to art. I would say that when I 1st started, I was such a perfectionist. I would obsess over making each collage piece perfect. Every cut and glued material had to be just right. That mind frame hindered me from expressing myself freely. It wasn’t until one day I was working on a collage called “Green Pastures” that I accidently ripped the paper I was about to glue down. My initial reaction was frustration, but it soon turned into freedom. At that moment I realized that art should have an element of free expression to it. It should not be contained but should be fully expressed in whatever way it comes to you. If that means you use ripped paper to display how you feel, then that’s what the piece requires. Having that moment of clarity changed my art practice forever.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am most proud of my latest collage exhibition entitled “Blooming in plain sight” presented by the Black on Black project and Project 8179. This show explored the intricate and nuanced existence of Black men in America as they search for their divine nature. Using found materials and images, I captured the beautiful complexity of Black men in different seasons of life. This exhibition offered an introspective look into a space often hidden behind masks and trauma. The collages in “Blooming in Plain Sight” acted as a healing salve for the wounded and for Black men who have fought silent battles. My goal was to create a safe space for those overwhelmed by life to begin blooming freely for the world to see.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I would say that my goal as an artist is to spread joy and light through analog hand cut/ ripped collages. This art form has enriched my life so much and my hope is to make the viewers feel seen when they encounter my work. I always say that collage is a lot like life. It’s a bunch of scattered and torn pieces puzzle pieced together to make a masterpiece that is our lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marcusdspeaksart.weebly.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcusdspeaks/?hl=en
• Other: https://linktr.ee/marcusdspeaks

Image Credits
Photographs by Adrian Robinson