Ron Ulicny

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Ron Ulicny and I am a sculptor.

How do you define your artistic style?

I’m not sure that I really have a style, nor am I sure I want one!? You see, more or less making the same piece over and over again ad nauseam would make me want to be a truck driver or a high school janitor instead.

What is your favorite medium?

I will use “anything” that works with or is called-for in any given piece. I guess you could say I sort of have “Art Attention Deficit Disorder or AADD for short” So…using a wide variety of materials / mediums allows me the freedom to seek and experience different methods and operations of production.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Everyone, Everywhere, and Everything…

What is your creative process?

It’s different for each piece. Some come together easier than others. I usually will start with some sketches, some visualization, play around with the materials and then just go for it. Working produces more work. To quote Mr. Jasper Johns, “Do something, do something to that, then do something to that”.

Is there a specific theme/message/emotion you aim to evoke?

Whatever one gathers, assess, or feels from the work is fine by me. Artists that make up these long-winded tales of hooey about their work, what they do, what it means and why they do it are just massaging the viewer and themselves

What motivates you to continue to create?

I’ve personally never had a problem with motivation. This is just something I do. It’s not really a choice. It’s more of a need. An instinct. I guess I have always felt that if one needs to motivate themselves to do something, it’s usually out some sort of necessity…and that’s no way to live or create

When you encounter creative blocks, what do you do to overcome them?

Don’t believe in that “creative block” nonsense. Just stay positive, keep working.

What are your thoughts on the future of art?

Hmmmmm!?!? Most likely some more repetitive, shiny, cliché crap done by studio assistants and subcontractors, that someone else takes the credit for!? #makeyourownart #fuckartistassitants #youdidn’tmakethat #nocraftsmanship

What is something you have had to learn on your own that you would like to pass on to the next Creative?

Being an artist can be a long road with ups & downs. Stay patient. Practice. Keep working. Grow thick skin and learn to accept rejection while keep moving forward. Commit yourself to your craft & learn the history. There’s no use doing something, that someone else has already done. Knowing the past will show you the direction for the future. Good luck.