Introducing Jack Budd
Jack Budd, American multi disciplinary artist, was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana and graduated from the University of Louisiana’s Visual Arts program with a concentration in Painting and Printmaking. Budd’s achievements include pieces and instillations in the University of Louisiana’s Marais Press Collection and Bottle Art Loft Apartments. Budd has also been published by the SouthWestern Review, a University of Louisiana contemporary periodical, on the cover and as a featured artist.
Recent instillations include LOUDHOUSE X ARCHIVES and (un)Common with Basin Arts. With work examining identity, imagination, and language in the context of socio-political, scientific, and religious ideology, Budd explores queer iconography in ecology to exemplify “it’s place in the natural world.” This includes imagery of roses, apples, and slugs which are all examples of hermaphroditism while also holding their own weighty symbolism. Slugs are a particular focus being their slow movements embody a contrast to our fast paced, hustle culture within late stage capitalism.
Who makes up your art circle?
Joining the LOUDHOUSE art interactive for 2024 put me in touch with artists that I would consider my most immediate and intimate art circle. They performed several grief ceremonies for the duration of the interactive which offered the community space for a much needed tradition of bearing the weight of the world together. We will be performing more together in the future.
I also consider friends and patrons who have contributed to my artistic growth as muses, mentors, friends, obstacles or otherwise as part of an ever growing art circle but that’s a more vague, obvious answer, still contended with love and truth. Two being the artists I’m part of the residency.
How do you expand your art circle?
Half the battle of expanding your art circle is showing up and interacting with what’s around, something I’m personally terrible at. The other half is a mix of researching what’s available, having grace for disagreements, and I’m sure a mixture of other factors. But something my friend said that sticks with me is “if you don’t feel like going even though you made the commitment, it may be the devil coming to snatch your potential.” I think even if you’re not religious, it’s a sentiment worth noting for the possibilities that exist and it’s making ourselves available. Finding a community you work with may also be a challenge but it’s always worth showing up at minimum to learn what does and doesn’t work for you personally.
What value do you see in having a creative community?
It’s an absolute necessity to have a creative community to get anywhere as a contemporary artist. Talent and education can only carry you so far and networking may even be the true art in late stage capitalism. Every iconic artist or celebrity also has a vast support system and it’s no different even on a local or communal level. It pays to be appreciative as an artist of those who help you in your success, as payments are already far and few in between.
How does your artistic approach contribute to your community?
Bitter fruits are sometimes great medicines.
Our weekly Art Circle series profiles artists throughout the community and is sponsored in part by Lafayette Visitor Enterprise Fund managed by Lafayette Travel
