Meet Local Artist Miles Regis
EXPLORE THE DYNAMIC WORLD OF MILES REGIS WHERE HIS TRINIDADIAN HERITAGE MEETS BOLD ARTISTIC ACTIVISM
By Sophia Lowe
Born in Trinidad and based in Los Angeles, artist Miles Regis creates vibrant, kinetic art that intertwines contemporary social issues with ancestral history. His mixed media paintings, featuring abstract and figurative techniques, have garnered a clientele including Jay Z, Beyoncé, Halle Berry, Spike Lee, and Mariah Carey. Renowned for his storytelling approach, Regis' work is a dynamic blend of music, performance, and visual art, resonating with themes of love, loss, freedom, and activism.
How does your Trinidadian background shape your artistic style?
My work is really reflective of what is happening in the now. It is a commentary on what is affecting us as a society in our day-to-day lives. The beautiful islands of Trinidad and Tobago are always with me on my journey. I left Trinidad almost 35 years ago, but subconsciously, there is always a bit of Trinidad on that canvas because it lives in me . . . in my DNA. My childhood was so festive and so richly influenced by all the cultural offerings of the many settlers on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Cultural influences from the African continent and racial and ethnic backgrounds such as East Indian, Syrian, Chinese, and many more, were the central characters in my day-to-day existence. My schooling as an artist began with Trinidad's festivals. It is truly a land of appreciation of all people’s heritage and a place where cultural differences are celebrated. Carnival specifically, was definitely the most significant cultural influence on me. Many say that my fabric collage work reminds them of the craftsmanship that goes into Trinidad's Carnival costume-making.
What inspires you to combine fashion elements like denim and sequins in your paintings?
I love texture and using elements that make for an interesting juxtaposition with other elements when placed together on canvas. I especially love placing found objects or disassembling personal objects that hold special memories to me and making them a part of a creation. It’s the best repurpose and up-cycle situation. For example, I’ve used my 17-year-old daughter’s former gymnastics tutu in a painting. So the memory lives on. Could you explain the significance of recurring motifs like eyes in your artwork? I have been drawing eyes and painting them since I was a teen; my parents have even kept the door to my childhood bedroom as I left it with a huge painted eye at the center of the door. The eyes are the window to the soul. To me, the eyes are a symbol of absolute truth. The eyes never lie.
How has working with Virtual Reality influenced your creative process?
VR and AR are such a special extension of what my paintings have to offer. In a way, it separates the many layers and continues the conversation I am having with the audience by propelling the dry paint into motion. I also love that I am able to add my music to the storytelling process. However, creating for VR and AR has not altered my creative process in any way. If anything it just amplifies my process and also allows for a closer peek into the varied layering that’s involved with creating any one of my works. We have some grandiose plans for AR-enabled paintings and VR installations in the future.
Miles Regis by Max Elram
What new mediums or themes are you excited to explore next in your art?
It is a top secret . . . No! . . . I don't want to jinx anything. Soon, it will all be revealed. I can say that I am currently collaborating with some amazing guru tech creators as well as some of my favorite musicians, and in discussion with some innovation-creating venues. I should have some beautiful new technology-driven installations available by the fall of 2024. I am super excited to explore new territory and it is always a thrill to be able to connect with new audiences in different cities worldwide. Thematically I intend to dig a bit deeper into areas such as environmental concerns and mental health challenges. Basically, anything that is personal to me ends up transferring onto my canvas.
milesregis.com | milesregis@gmail.com