Interview by Jimon

1-Where do you currently live and create?  I have a little studio in my mom’s garage in Glendale, CA. I always have a paint pen with me wherever I am.

2-What is your earliest childhood memory of making art?  I drew while in the car all the time. My friends families had the minivans with TVs in them or they had iPads and stuff but I went to a hippie school and wasn’t allowed stuff like that so when I was bored, I drew stuff. I still draw in the car a lot. I am Fourteen so I can’t drive instead I draw.

My first BIG art memory is when my Godfather Marvin Etzioni convinced LACMA to let me into one of their Summer workshops. I was the littlest kid but I didn’t care. That was when I first knew I wanted to be a painter, for REAL.

3-What did your path to becoming an artist look like?  A lot of my art is sold to raise money for different social causes I believe in. The art program at my middle school really needed supplies so I decided to have an art show to raise money. People had been asking to buy stuff for a while but I felt weird about it. This was a way to sell my work without the guilt. I was only Twelve but I raised over $2,000 for the school. That’s also how I met my manager Carmen Acosta. She heard about the idea and just thought it was cool and came to help out. My shows are still very motivated by social causes.

4-Did you study art or is it inherent?  No. I really hate the concept of art classes. It sucks too because I go to a fine art magnet school and it’s amazing and everything and the teachers are great but they hate me because I’m like the worst art student in history. I just want to draw what I want to draw. I have ADHD. It’s really hard to focus on things I don’t care about.

5-How would you describe Tex?  Poorly. I have a weird vision of myself.

6-Is there any reality behind what we see in your paintings?  There’s tons of meaning for me but I always feel drained when I try to explain my work at shows. I really want the meaning to be whatever it is for you. That’s much more interesting.

7-What emotion do you expect to be on people’s faces when they look at your art?  I try not to have a lot of expectations.

8-Do you have motto on how to live life?  Mottos Kill.

9- What influences you as an artist?  I see colors and shapes when I listen to music so I definitely use it a lot when I’m working. For a while I was scared that maybe I couldn’t paint without it but I can, just not as good.

10-Do you have a place/person/thing that you visit for inspiration?  I go see other artists as much as I can. I love Thinkspace, and Corey Helford in LA. When I’m feeling stuck, I wander around at The Broad to see how great and huge and unrestrained art can be. The possibilities.

11-When you are not painting where would someone find you?  Skateboarding. Those are literally my only two interests. Skating and painting. My uncle is Steve Saiz the skater who is also an incredible artist. He’s been a big inspiration. I also love alleys and junkyards for skating/canvas collecting opportunities. Jay Howell is also my friend and he’s who I first saw skating and being a successful artist and he really showed me how those things can feed each other.

12-If a movie was to be made about your life, where would it ideally take place and who would be the actor playing your part?  Ugh. I can’t.

13-The future is _________?  Change

14-What advice would you give putative collectors?  I don’t know what putative means but regular art collectors should not follow trends. Just buy what hits you in the gut and makes you feel something. That’s a good buy.

15-How do you describe success as an artist?  Being happy. Creating every day. A soft place to sleep.

16-Name three things you can’t live without in your studio?  My speaker, sour candy and a black oil stick.

17-What historical figure(artist or not) do you like to invite over for pizza?  Ozzy Osbourne.

18-How would someone find you on Social media?  Instagram @texhammond

19-What question would you ask if you were the interviewer and please answer the question?  Are you feeling distracted and restless now?

Yes. ?

20-Please name the first thing that comes to your mind while reading the following: 

Art=Need

Food=UberEats

Sports=No

Politics=AOC

Poor=Free

God=Satan

Rich=Dumb

Luxury= Ego

Sex=Yes

Picasso=God

Religion=War