Deconstructing Darkness for the Brave New World
Malik Roberts starts his works with a feeling that leads him to places dark, deep and meaningful. Artist draws his inspiration from Baroque giants and brings it to a contemporary audience in his very own, uniquely deconstructed manner.
INTERVIEW WITH THE ARTIST MALIK ROBERTS
Artist MALIK ROBERTS
LES COULEURS: You knew you wanted to be an artist at a very young age and you both followed different paths (formal art education versus your creative path). What advice would you give to our very young Les Couleurs arts students?
MALIK ROBERTS: The advice I would give is to do what your heart and gut tell you to do. Each option comes with hard work and dedication, I just don’t have student loans.
LC: Your art is contemporary in appeal but you are always striving for museum-quality or for a very immersive audience experience augmented with technology. Tell us about your technique and the artists that inspired you.
MR: I usually start with a feeling I’m trying to convey with the piece I am about to start. Then I’ll search for different references to get certain postures or positions and just build on that if I don’t already have an idea on how I want the subject to be placed. Then I deal with colors and composition. I’m mostly inspired by Baroque artists like Caravaggio and Van Dyck right now, but I also look at Picasso and Bacon.
LC: Your artwork always surprises. We are very curious - what are you working on now?
MR: I got a couple of projects in the works, a few shows, and my next major show will be next year around March maybe. It’s going to be beautiful.
MALIK ROBERTS
Hoop Dreams, 2017
Oil, acrylic, charcoal
48 x 60 in
MALIK ROBERTS
Woman by the Window, 2018
Oil, acrylic and pastel on canvas
48 x 36 in
MALIK ROBERTS
It Couldn't Be Unseen, 2018
Oil, acrylic and pastel on canvas
36 x 36 in
MALIK ROBERTS
Hunger Pains, 2018
Oil, acrylic and pastel
48 x 60 in
MALIK ROBERTS
Crucifixion of a Blk Man, 2018
Oil, acrylic and pastel on canvas
18 x 24 in
