Meet Royal Young in Downtown Phoenix

Today we’d like to introduce you to Royal Young.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Royal. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Art is in my blood. I grew up with an artist father in New York City and learned to walk and paint in his studio. My grandfather also painted and taught art when he was a young man, but when I knew him his gorgeous paintings were collecting dust in his basement as he had instead pursued a career as a lawyer and Rabbi. I was always inspired by Pop Art, technicolor street murals and the vibrant and dangerous neighborhood of downtown Manhattan where I lived, but as the city gentrified and changed and I grew older, I yearned for inspiration from other places and new experiences.

I spent time traveling to Panama, Guatemala, and South America which opened me up to vibrant cultures, tropical colors and ways of creating. When I returned to the United States, my grandfather died. I knew then that my time in New York had come to an end as well. I moved to Phoenix, Arizona to heal and paint in the desert. I’m inspired by the iconic natural beauty of Arizona and its canyons filled with mystery, magic, and creative energy. I feel I honor my grandfather’s spirit in my work and in pursuing the artistic dreams that he was so proud of.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Creativity is never a smooth road. I think early success actually stunts the creative process. Struggle and being forced to find ways to continue pursuing your art are difficult, but ultimately make you stronger. For me, struggles have been financial, the loss of my grandfather who was a huge inspiration and support system in my life and trying to create in an authentic way that people appreciate but is still true to my vision. I’ve had to travel and live in different places, make ends meet any way I can and say no to more stable jobs in order to keep pursuing my art. I think this forced me to have a more open and in the moment approach to life. And once I let go of my expectations of success and allowed creativity to come naturally, I had my first debut solo show when I was 28 years-old at a gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and began selling pieces. I also wouldn’t have come to Phoenix and started a new chapter of desert-inspired paintings if I hadn’t had to say goodbye to my family in New York City and start fresh.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
Born and raised in downtown Manhattan, I’m currently inspired by relocating to Phoenix. My new collection brings a vivid, Pop Art neon dream style to the iconic beauty of Arizona landscapes, wildlife and desert mystery.

At twenty-nine years old, my debut solo show “LUSH DOOM” premiered at Figureworks Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 2015.

My work has been called “Titillating,” by the New York Post, “Bold, fast and explosive with hyper-saturated colors…a sense of American dreaming,” by New York Magazine, and “Creative, tumultuous,” by Honeysuckle Magazine.

I have also been a writer my entire life and I feel my words and art compliment and strengthen each other.
My debut memoir FAME SHARK (Heliotrope Books) came out in 2013 to critical acclaim, with Emmy Award Winning Actress Kristen Johnston blurbing “A hilarious and moving love letter to New York City.”, and author Jerry Stahl, “Heir apparent to the legion of pervily genius literary Jews.”

For the past seven years, I’ve been a regular contributor to Interview Magazine and the New York Post interviewing authors and icons such as Martin Amis, Michael Ian Black, Barbara Kingsolver, Susan Orlean, Chuck Palahniuk, Marky Ramone, Lionel Shriver, Amber Tamblyn, Jess Walters among many others. My work has also appeared in The New York Times, Observer, BOMB Magazine, The Rumpus, The Forward and the anthology How Does That Make You Feel? (Seal Press) among others.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Grit and perseverance are the most important keys to my success. I grew up with grandparents who were first-generation immigrants and they taught me hard work and never giving up. A lot of time people with tremendous creative talent lack the follow-through or grit to keep on pushing and get their work seen and heard. Creative fields are very, very difficult. There is a ton of rejection, little financial gain at first, sometimes it can feel like you are screaming into the void and no one hears you or understands your creative voice. You need to break through that and keep on going. No matter what. Know that there are people out there who will appreciate your work and you can change their lives through your art.

Pricing:

• Prices on small scale to large scale paintings range from $30-$400

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amazon.com/Fame-Shark-Royal-Young/dp/0983294089
• Email: therealroyalyoung@gmail.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/theroyalyoung
• Twitter: Twitter.com/RoyalYoung

Image Credit:
Amanda Segur, Royal Young

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