Contemporary Artist Chaz Guest on Willing Himself to Greatness
By Spectrum News Staff Los Angeles
PUBLISHED 2:16 PM ET Aug. 12, 2019
LA Stories with Giselle Fernandez profiles self-taught contemporary artist Chaz Guest.
Giselle discovers how Guest literally and purposefully willed himself into artistic greatness with paintings that effuse emotion, energy, and essence. He also opens up to Giselle about his journey and rise from the projects to having his work displayed in the White House.
His paintings are collected worldwide and can be found in the collections of kings, President Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Clarence Avant, and Angelina Jolie, among many other global impact makers.
He is renowned for his “Cotton Series” — paintings that portray the dignity of African-Americans forced to work the cotton fields. Guest explains to Giselle how he channels the faces and humanity of those that he brings to life on canvas…from the times of slavery to Trayvon Martin.
He emotionally reveals to Giselle the painful losses in his own family due to gun violence and the power of language and music to determine one’s future. Inspired by his young son, and determined to elevate the consciousness and empowerment of black youth, Guest created the “Buffalo Soldier Superhero” character, which can be found on display at L.A.’s prestigious Patrick Painter Gallery.
Today, his Buffalo Soldier Superhero is on path to become a feature film. Guest shares with Giselle that inspiring children is his utmost joy and the force behind his World Art Project, which brings the arts to children in L.A. and across the world.