Meet Grayson Alexander of Grayson Alexander & Art by Alf in Pilsen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grayson Alexander.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Well, cliff note version, essentially my parents wouldn’t support me through college if I decided to declare as a fine arts major. Subsequently, I decided to go to school for business and obtained my MBA in 2009. Upon completion of my MBA, I started my professional career as an auditor at a big 4 accounting firm. Three years into my career, I went into my parent’s basement to obtain one of my college books from my chest and found my childhood to college sketchbooks. It was at this moment in my late 20’s that I realized, I was so far removed from the person that I had hoped to be at my current age. It was at that time, I decided to start back sketching a minimum of 30 minutes a day. As I was on this amazing road of self-discovery related to being an artist, I landed a promotion at my firm and used the extra income to invest in my first DSLR. I carried my DSLR everywhere to learn how to use it properly and to take pictures of all my travels, as my firm required me to travel around 80%. As I developed my craft over the next several years, I would either carry a sketchbook or camera with me as I never knew when I would feel inspired because free time wasn’t exactly a luxury due to the demands of my career. As I began to re-develop a love for both fine arts and photography, I decided to transition into more of a traditional business role allowing me the flexibility to explore my creative curiosity.

Has it been a smooth road?
I believe that we live in a conveyor belt society that force feeds us into roles based on years of experience and education; essentially a hierarchy determining one’s very own pedigree. When going through the motions of life, you tend to find yourself sitting at a desk being told what to do and how to think to survive within a predetermined economic structure. This starts in preschool and follows you as you matriculate college, and land a job in your respective industry. There are some of us that realize this early on, some that figure it as they go through the motions of life, and others that never notice at all. Whenever one decides to chase something that a designed society has done everything to prevent you from actually considering, you will have trials. It’s a way of learning and thinking that the system did not prepare you to operate within and does not reflect the normal route chosen for success. Along with my personal journey, there have been ups and down as I had to learn a new way of thinking while also trying to find and define my creative voice. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a struggle, but I would define it as a never ending learning opportunity. However, the journey to come into my own as a creative has proven to be an ever-evolving task that only gets refined as time progresses. Daily, I look back and see how far I have come from sketching 30min a day to painting large scale paintings and murals and am ever pleased with my choice to rebel against the societal norms placed upon me.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Grayson Alexander & Art by alf story. Tell us more about the business.
As a professional, as defined by societal standards, I work in risk management and compliance and have made a transition out of public accounting. As an entrepreneur, I sell fine arts under alf (e.g. paintings, drawings, photography prints) and offer photography services (e.g. engagement, weddings, families shoots, ect ) under the name Grayson Alexander. My artistic works focus on paying homage to my favorite childhood characters, the development of my own character, Grayson (inspired my son), and the beauty that is everything female using vibrant eye grabbing colors engulfed in controlled chaos. Although I have enjoyed taking photos for clients from a commercial aspect, I was challenged to ensure my fine arts photography tells a story; I have made it my life’s mission to debunk stereotypes and give a voice to those who don’t have a microphone, metaphorically speaking. Specifically, over the past year, I have devoted my time to tell stories of Black fathers throughout the Chicagoland area to combat the narrative that there is nothing but (and I quote) “Black on Black crime”, “South Side Gun Violence”, etc. I believe it is essential to combat stereotypes and I am committed to using my artistic voice to speak up.

Differentiating factors for me is my business background and unique professional experiences that allow me to understand aspects of a business that some artists may completely ignore (e.g. marketing, negotiation, strategy, target market, etc.). I won’t get into clichés that are easily dismissed; nor will I continue a banter of self-indulgence. However, when it comes to art (in all forms), there will always be artists that speak to specific people and it’s only a matter of understanding one’s market and being able to adequately tap into that identified market. Art is subjective and will always have a way of inspiring or birthing a conversation to direct the course of societal norms.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I believe there has always been a traditional path for creating fine art vs design vs fashion design and so on. There has always been this unofficial line drawn in the sand for individuals to stay in one specific lane. Now, we are seeing that once defined lines are becoming blurred for artists and designers alike; these individuals are taking advantage of non-traditional outlets (e.g. social media, platform shops, etc.) to promote and develop a unique brand not determined by the “gatekeepers” of those respective industries. I believe over time, thanks to advances in technological platforms and the evolution of such industries, creatives will be able to easily access and adequately inspire their “target market.”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.graysonalexander.co and artbyalf.com
• Phone: 850-228-0999
• Email: grayson@graysonalexander.co
• Instagram:  @graysonalexander3

Image Credit:
Julian Harris, Kisha Harris

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