Life & Work with Angus Galloway

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angus Galloway.

Hi Angus, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Bath, England, and lived in Scotland and Wales before moving to North Carolina when I was 7. I moved to Atlanta a few years later and I would call this city my home base for many years. Growing up I always sought formal and informal creative outlets—taking art classes, filling up sketchbooks, and making work in my parents’ basement.

As an undergraduate at Emory University in Atlanta, I studied art history, philosophy, and studio art. I had amazing and supportive art mentors in high school and college, who allowed me to play, experiment, and develop new skills. Every time I tried to take a more conventional career path art would pull me back so I attended Georgia State University where I graduated with an M.F.A., concentrating on drawing and painting along with sound design.

For the last 5 years, I have focused on drawing with various types of paper, media, and tools. I love that drawing is the visual result of a physical action and I use this basic idea as the premise to forge a dialogue between the implement in my hand and the surface. In my recent work, the emphasis is on texture and its impact on the image that grows out of a variety of experimental techniques. I am currently an art professor at Vanderbilt University where I am hard at work developing creative opportunities for students and the larger community.

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?
A career in the arts is not likely to be a straight, well-paved road. When I was younger, I was very interested in opportunities to coach and tutor; I enjoyed sharing what I could do well with others. As my interest in art-making grew, I was confident that my career would center around art-making and teaching. I learned quickly that I was not alone!

The journey that followed was a patchwork of stories that moved from small opportunities to larger ones back to smaller ones. Early in my career, I was so excited when I had an exhibition at a gallery that I respected or when a piece was purchased by a museum. And often after those moments, I would struggle with what comes next and often doubt whether something would happen again.

Because I never left, I now take comfort in knowing that the shape of the road is a completely natural sequence that resembles the path of a wave with peaks that turn into valleys and turn back into peaks only to change again. Most of all, your family and friends join you for your journey, and, with their support, you stay connected to what’s important.

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?
I specialize in drawing and opportunities like this are great because they remind me to look back and see all the changes that take place in one’s creative process over time. From using both hands at the same time to limiting the view of the paper to a small window I am interested in what happens when you open the door to the unknown.

I think this commitment to trying new things and not staying in the same place for too long sets me apart. Somewhere between a gut feeling and intuition, my practice is focused on stepping out into new territory. This ability to change and grow is probably what keeps me coming back to making.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Art is a difficult industry to define because there are so many important elements that make up the rich ecosystem we have today. Museums and galleries play an important role in supporting artists and bringing important themes and topics to the fore. But more than ever artists are building an individual infrastructure for their creative work and using this digital architecture to self-promote and connect to their audience directly.

For the future to be bright and sustainable for artists, institutions, and the marketplace we should be forging a landscape where all parties celebrate the symbiotic relationship that exists. My suggestion: Support and protect the freedom of artists to push boundaries and explore. Invest in the arts by purchasing artwork that moves you. Take the time to experience art in person so you can feel the indelible mark of human expression.

Contact Info:

• Website: angusgalloway.com
• Instagram: @angus_galloway
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/angus-galloway-a50a83157