Artist Interview with Jeremy Fish

Haight Street Art Center, San Francisco, CA 

1. Firstly, who are you, where are you from and what’s your background?

My name is Jeremy. I draw pictures for a living in the center of the oldest neighborhood, in the most expensive city in the United States.

I moved to San Francisco from Upstate NY when I was 19 years old to attend a prestigious Art School, and to ride my skateboard down these hills.

2. My first memories of your art is in San Francisco in 2007, but how did your art career begin and how has it progressed?

After I graduated from SFAI in 1997, I got a job in the skateboard industry where I oversaw printing, drew graphics, and art directed for about ten years. That was my last full time job over 15 years ago. Since I have exhibited my artwork in museums and galleries around the world, and still spend my days drawing and painting here in North Beach.

3. What has most inspired your creative process over the years? Have any certain artists been an inspiration to you?

I am inspired by something new everyday. Mainly finding the motivation and passion to stay here in the city I love doing what I do for a living. I am inspired by artists like Todd Francis, Mike Giant, Travis Millard, Dr. Suess, Michael Sieben, and shitloads of others.

4. A lot of your work seems to center around a mixture of aspects of nature and aspects of the city life, what can you tell me about this? Does it have a specific meaning behind it?

I try to draw fairly narrative works, that have an underlying theme or story to them. I like to draw things that are a combination of cute and creepy. I like the tension created by drawing the viewer in to look close, and pushing them back from something odd.

5. How has graffiti and the graffiti culture most influenced your art career? Can you tell me about your process when it comes to designing a mural?

I was very influenced by Graffiti when I moved to San Francisco in the mid 90's. The scene here was very cool and progressive, and I learned a lot by studying some of the legends from that time.

Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco, CA 

6. I am a big fan of your work with Upper Playground and your company, Superfishal, what were the beginnings of your company and how did you partner up with Upper Playground?

Upper Playground is celebrating 20 years selling art driven tee shirts on Fillmore and Haight Street here in the city by the Bay. I am very proud to have been involved with this brand, its history, and all of the wonderful artists we were fortunate to work with over the years. 

7. You’re a bit of a veteran in the art scene, What ways have you seen the art/graffiti scene change over the years?

I am a 46 year old artist living in America's most expensive city by almost 1/3 more than Manhattan. I have watched the art scene here change very rapidly and dramatically over the 25 years I have been fortunate enough to live here. Artists come and go very quickly here, and so the "scene" is forever changing. Every time I pay attention the scene is something new and different. The voice of the Bay Area youth, as it should be.

8. What advice would you give to young artists and creatives trying to make a career in the art world?

Right now I would probably tell them to get a back up job. The world is a fucked up place to try and eat off of making art these days.

9. Do you have any upcoming projects that you are currently working on that you could tell me about? Or anything you want to plug for the readers to hear about?

I am moving in to a four story mansion, fully restored to its original late 1800's condition to begin an Artist In Residency project on September 1st. The Haight Ashbury Counter Culture Artist in Residency project sponsored by SF Heritage, The Haight Street Art Center, and Grants for The Arts. Where I live in this huge mansion alone and draw for three months. Also, I am releasing a set of 24 drawings and screen prints that I drew over the last six months called "These Covidian Times". They will be available in October from the Blackbook Gallery in Denver.

These Covidian Times (Art series releases at BlackBook Gallery in Denver, CO beginning of October 2020)

Follow Jeremy Fish on Instagram @mrjeremyfish

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