Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Fairchild
Hi Robert, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Memphis, TN, and have been drawing and painting my entire life, taking several art classes throughout elementary, middle, and high school. The University of Memphis generously offered me a full-ride art scholarship, which I gladly accepted. Over five years, I studied journalism and studio art, ultimately graduating with a double major in the spring of 2020.
After graduating, I worked at Whole Foods while maintaining a studio practice with the intention of moving to New York. In early 2021, I applied for a gallery assistant position at an art gallery in SoHo. The day after submitting my application, I received an email requesting an interview. A few days later, I flew to New York with just a suitcase and started the job the day after my interview.
I worked as a gallery assistant for three years while continuing to paint in my spare time. After spending considerable time in the art world, I realized it wasn’t the right fit for me and decided to refocus on my own work. I now live and work in Brooklyn, NY, maintaining my studio practice and striving to build a compelling portfolio for publications and galleries.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth journey. Life happens to everyone. Leaving Memphis was a daunting task, but starting fresh was a nice thought. I initially lived in a mouse-infested apartment in Harlem, where people yelled outside my window at all hours of the night. Adjusting to the cost of living in New York was not exactly fun. The city kind of beats you down in a lot of ways until you eventually become a masochist like everyone who lives here and grow to love it. Overall, life is pretty great, though. Recently, I had to figure out what I valued most and then adjust everything accordingly to make my painting career feasible again. There has been a lot of change over the past five years, but I’m thankful for every person I’ve met and every difficult situation that has come up. I often think of what my grandma used to say to me: “That’s life, kid.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a painter. I specialize in figurative oil painting, but that is slowly changing. I’d say I’m most proud of the work I’m making now. I’m just happy to have the opportunity to create paintings and share them with the people I care about. If someone I don’t know likes the work too, then that’s a win in my book.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Taking risks or making a leap of faith is essential to living a fulfilling life. Falling into a career I didn’t want was a big fear of mine for a while, but you have to pay the bills somehow. I voluntarily left a comfortable job and spent a year working in retail, driving a forklift. I never thought I’d have to go back, but having the time to create my work and a little more freedom to see my friends and family was far more valuable than any dollar amount. Plus, driving a forklift is really fun, so I don’t regret it at all.
Taking risks is important. Not every decision I’ve made has gone well—my family could give several examples—but sometimes, you need a good factory reset before things can run smoothly again.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://robertfairchildiv.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert_fairchild/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robert.fairchild.714/
