Rising Stars: Meet Aidan Malsbary

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aidan Malsbary.

Hi Aidan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
In High School, though my grades were average in most subjects, I had behavioral issues and almost didn’t graduate, but my last semester of my senior year, I was encouraged to take AP studio art and apply to art college. I got a perfect score (5) on my studio art advanced placement portfolio and was accepted with scholarships to almost all the art schools I applied to. I loved art school and made it into a post-bac and then master’s program in Art education. Around this time, I also took time off after being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and borderline personality disorder and went on long-term disability. I wasn’t sure what my future would look like and, unfortunately, spent 15 years in and out of hospitals, living in group homes and working part-time in art centers, painting only a few times a year. The pandemic was really hard on me, and as things improved, I started to dedicate myself to a daily practice and talk about art with my close friends who were also artists. Over the last year, I have gotten comfortable overcoming creative challenges and developing a style of my own. I hope this is a turning point in my career as a painter and sculptor and as a maker of pretty things. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One struggle I had was with the art school where I spent most of my time and graduated from. The school taught me to paint and draw academically and realistically, but it killed my imagination and understanding of the real art market. I blame my severe and persistent mental illness, coming out as Trans and transitioning, and being stunted by my art college for needing to take those 15 years off. Ultimately, they were not for not; I learned some valuable skills about the world and my place in it. It also gave me an appreciation for outsider art, including art of the mad and self-taught artists, folk artists, craft makers. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
In my art, I use a lot of street art supplies like markers and aerosols. I focus first online work, often in black ink, often focused on hands, feet, cartoon faces, and bodies. This is where I begin to work up my palette; my art this year is very bright and colorful and reminds me of my work when I was at Tyler School of Art. I am most proud of the galleries and grants I have applied to this month despite going through a separation from my spouse and multiple hospitalizations for intrusive thoughts and a suicide attempt. One thing that sets me aside from others is that I don’t use my illnesses as an excuse to not work on my passions and be the best artist I can be. 

How do you define success?
Success to me is feeling whole and proud and satisfied with myself and my loved ones, the relationships I have built, the change I affected. The people I met along the way. 

Pricing:

• I sell prints for $25, that are signed or you can buy from Society 6
• Originals are $200 and up and can be found on my IG and website, or you can email me
• I accept Gift Cards in payment as well as Venmo

Contact Info:

• Website: maxjackburns.wixsite.com/sanebrain
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uff.da.art/

Image Credits
Aidan Malsbary