We are pleased to welcome Malik McKoy to the RMG as part of the RBC Emerging Artist Residency Program. To learn more about Malik’s artistic practice and his plans for the incubator lab, visit his profile and read his blog post below!
Hello! I’m so thrilled to be the next artist in residence at the RMG.
I am currently based in Ajax, Ontario, where I live with my family. Spending the bulk of the pandemic at home yielded some highs, as well as some challenges.
On one hand, I was able to dedicate a lot of extra time to improving my 3D modeling skills. As a result, and thanks to several commissions, my digital practice has been my main focus over the past year and a half. Commissioned art making is still fairly new to me, and navigating that since graduating has been a cool plot twist in my practice. It definitely kept my creative juices flowing while also growing my professional experience.
On the other hand, finding space to paint was a real challenge. Between commissions I have been working on personal projects (both digital and analog), but it was hard without dedicated studio space to make paintings in our garage.
Having access to a studio where I can work freely is what I am most looking forward to with this residency. Also, as a resident of Durham Region, I’m ecstatic that I will not have to travel very far (lol). I think my visual style is still developing in both my digital and analog practices, which is exciting for me as I prepare for working in the RBC artist incubator lab.
I plan on engaging with the public through online tools and in-person visits, so people will be able to see the various stages of my work. While revealing artistic processes can be nerve-wracking, I also find it cool that neither the artist, nor the viewer can know what the end result will look like (even if the artist is sure they do).
Lastly, I’m also looking forward to reflecting on the playlists I make over the course of the residency, and how music potentially influences how I paint (or not!).
Malik will be streaming live from the RBC artist incubator lab on January 26 (12pm), February 23 (7pm), and March 16 (12pm). Follow us on Instagram to see works in progress and hear about his processes in the studio.
