VUE

Was there a pivotal moment when you decided to follow your path as an artist? OMEWHAT. I WAS ON A PATH in my life in the corporate world, making good money but wasn't very happy—just not satisfied. I al- ways came back to my first love, which was creating art. Once I really pursued that on a full-time basis there was no going back. I couldn't deny the creativity inside me that challenged me as nothing else could. It challenges me mentally and requires that constantly. Without my art, I'd be lost or would have wanted to pursue another creative path, such as film or music. Tell me about when the moniker "e King of Pop Art" came about? It was around the spring of 2009 when I first met Michael Jackson. He was honestly in awe of my artwork—really loved it and bought three large pieces. He wanted to buy more except that there was so much chaos and turmoil with news crews chasing him that he had to leave. He asked me about my art and the titles and he declared in that so yet notable voice that I was "e King of Pop Art and he was the King of Pop," which made him smile. He seemed to like that. I did as well. It had a nice ring. Faster than I knew it, headlines in the media and entertainment news the next day picked up on the catchy title, "e King of Pop buys artwork from e King of Pop Art." Don't misunderstand, however, I am not a narcissist. is is my brand name—much like singers, rappers or designers have a secondary, sometimes showy, name for their personal brands. It's my legal trademark, my website, my social media handle and what I use for the li- censed brands that I develop partnerships with for many products with my designs, etc. Something I'd also to clarify—which is a falsehood—is that Andy Warhol was actually ever called the "King of Pop Art" while he was alive or at any time in his life—he was not. He was actually called the "Prince of Pop." Tell me about some of your first big high-profile commissions. Who were they for? Which snowballed your career the most? I've had a lot of amazing people commis- sion my work, but I'd have to mention the absolute craziness, buzz and sales that occurred around my sales to Michael Jackson in 2009. e combination of him always in the media, his last big Lon- don tour occurring and his massive fan following along with his sudden death just aer purchasing his art from me created a media and press flurry. ey flocked to my studio for news and entertain- ment interviews and people all over the world—L.A., Dubai and London—wanted to own the art he had just bought before his death. It was insanity like nothing I'd seen. Besides that, however, I have had the pleasure to create custom commission art for outstanding producers, directors, Emmy award-winners, actors, major corporations and business owners—even big art collectors. s V U E N J . C O M 88

• Cover