Skram came up as an artist in Providence, but has made a name for himself nationwide. Big-name artists and celebs rock his brand all around the world, but he always keeps his focus rooted in the local community, with work that continues to make a real impact.
We chopped it up with Skram about his inspirations, the struggles of being an artist in today’s world, some of the biggest moments of his career, and what keeps him inspired to create.
For people just discovering your work, who is Skram, and how would you describe your style as an artist?
My name Skram is my last name backwards … that’s how I thought of it. I am a very far out artist that uses vivid colors and intricate line work to make designs pop and almost jump off the page. I then created a clothing brand. … I’d say my style is very comparable to 1960s album art from that psychedelic era.
I was raised by two of the coolest parents one could ever hope for—my dad was at Woodstock, and his immense music collection influenced me and still does to this very day. My mom was a teacher and hippie too, let me get high and just be free to develop my art and draw for endless hours
Growing up and creating in Providence, how has the city influenced your art and the way you approach your work?
I started out drawing with chalk and won first place in the skating rink downtown in Providence, then I went to RISD and was lucky to take some art classes at one of the most prestigious art schools in America. The professor basically told me that I should continue doing what I’m doing and there’s not much they could teach me. I went on my way as an independent artist and do this everyday.
Where do you draw most of your inspiration from—music, cannabis, street culture, other artists, personal experiences, or somewhere else?
I draw most of my inspirations from cannabis, music, and personal psychedelic experiences. I consider myself somewhat of a shaman—I’ve guided many many people I know on their own entheogenic journeys and have myself eaten mushrooms 56 times and acid about the same. I am always fully present and find the spirits of these plant teachers as our true allies in this earth realm and that we are made to resonate with them and grow and expand our consciousness through their respected use and ceremonial practices.
What are some of the biggest struggles you face as an artist in today’s society, especially when it comes to making a living while staying authentic?
Honestly some of the biggest struggles I face as an artist in today’s society is finding my target market and getting money on the daily. I stand outside in the middle of traffic at the intersection with my shirts on hangers and color prints and also accept donations. I have been doing this for the last couple years. I started with just color prints and grew that into the clothing brand Skram. I’m also an MC, but I stay true to myself, hold my head high, and continue to network and push my brand on the daily even while working 80-plus hours a week at my regular job. And I hear people sometimes drive by me and yell, Get a job! That’s so funny to me.
What was it like seeing Method Man wearing your art on stage? Did that moment change the way you looked at the reach of your work?
Seeing Method Man wearing my art on stage at the 30th Anniversary Soul Train Awards on BET was mind boggling to say the least. I lost my mom about four years ago and that was the loudest moment of her life to see him walking onto the stage wearing her only son’s art. She had it saved on the TV for years and would show all my friends and hers especially if someone hadn’t seen it yet. It made me realize my reach is much further than I realized with my designs and I simply need to stay fully immersed in the creation process and continue to network with bigger names and influencers, maybe do some podcast interviews to help promote the brand too.
Is there one piece, collaboration, or moment in your career that you feel best represents who Skram is as an artist?
The one piece and collab that I feel defines me as an artist and what I am capable of is my collaboration with Bob Marley’s eldest grandson, Daniel Bambaata Marley, Ziggy’s son. He reached out to me after he saw Method Man rocking my merch and asked me to create a custom psychedelic caricature from a photo of him he had sent me. I had never done anything like that up until this point. But that’s how I learn best. Like Picasso said, I learn best when doing things I’ve never done.
From that collab we did a 50-shirt drop he released in Cali, even one of Chris Brown’s dancers modeled it at one point. And I created a new form of art with this piece I call skramifying something. So to use it in a sentence, I can skramify that logo of or a picture of you or even your dog. I can literally skramify anything. I place a picture on a light box and do a light trace so it looks like said picture. Then lights off, and that’s when the real work begins. I do hours of freehand work to breathe life into these three-dimensional highly intricate designs I make so people can be truly tripped out. Feels like I took a time machine to this dimension
What’s next for Skram? Are there any new projects, collaborations, exhibitions, or bigger goals you’re working toward?
Up next for me is promoting my website where I sell my shirts connecting with rappers who want their own clothing brands developed cause I’m a visionary and can bring anything to life … hand paint some Air Force Ones and auction them off and get my sweaters and hoodies poppin’ for the cold weather. Everyone is going to need one of those, and honestly I also rap so working on my music and eventually drawing my own album cover and getting my music pressed on vinyl. Planning to take this brand worldwide one person at a time.
