Gregory Uzelac
Gregory Uzelac (b. 1990) is an artist, writer, and academic from New York City currently living and working on the lands of the Eora Nation (Sydney, Australia).
Artist and Collector Gregory Uzelac draws inspiration from the cultural hybridization of migration, mass media, and myth. In this interview we speak with Uzelac about post-digital conceptual and technical trends in the art world and the irony of digital aesthetics. He describes his fascinating process of world building and story telling through painting, and answers how one might cultivate a collector base for their artwork.
PRESS START
Uzelac completed a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University in 2013 focusing primarily on postcolonial theory and ancient and contemporary mythology from the Asian Subcontinent. In 2022 he completed a Master of Fine Arts by Research at Sydney University with his thesis, Harnessing the Myths of Now: Restoring Social Harmony Through Mythic Art, which can be accessed though the USyd Library here.
PP: What makes you fall in love with a piece of art?
GU: Recently I have been attracted to artworks to which I have the same reaction that I might have to seeing a magic trick. I don't mean this in that I like works that are gimmicky, but instead I want to be stopped in my tracks by an artwork, dumbfounded even, and wondering "how did they do that?" It might be a certain colour depth, a level of detail that's been achieved, or it could be some technique or material that I have not seen before (or for a long time), but I love feeling astounded by an artwork.
NICE IS DIFFERENT THAN GOOD
PP: How do you cultivate a collector base for your artwork?
GU: I have always made a concerted effort to offer my work to the largest audience possible, and so I have fostered a collector base that is diverse -- both in terms of personal background and knowledge of art. At the same time, I try to make work that is an entry point to a deeply human dimension. I connect with collectors who have an appreciation of my style and technique, and are aware of how I create as an artist and mythologist, but most importantly I look to foster a base of collectors who are open to the empathic purpose I give my artwork.
100 ITERATIONS
PP: What current art world trends are you following?
GU: I am always following post-internet and post-digital conceptual and technical trends, but I think that there is an over-saturation of work that samples from internet culture, adult entertainment, and ironic digital aesthetics. I often refer to them as "memes with extra steps." In general there seems to be a Surrealist revival, which is fitting based on the state of the world and the fact it does not look too dissimilar to the world Andre Breton saw a century ago. This time though, there is a much more diverse range of artists making surrealist work, and therefore the Surrealist project is enhanced and more intriguing.
The Song of @merica
PP: How did you develop your visual language?
GU: My visual language derives from storytelling, and the layering of elements that make a narrative. After writing movies and plays for years, I wanted to achieve a greater sense of unspoken dialogue with my audience and create a narrative framework where all parties had agency. I started taking the elements that make a script and assigning them roles in my painting process. These are all layered on to create the narrative. Ultimately I developed three sub-techniques from this layering of elements. All three techniques form a process of which I am not fully in control. The story directs me and I produce the story. Its a symbiotic relationship.
Uzelac considers myth to be an untapped resource for artistic expression, and encourages society to embrace nonessentialist storytelling and mythmaking as a means to overcome social and political disharmony. Aside from art, Uzelac is a passionate cricketer and lover of Swedish pop sensation ABBA.
To reach Gregory or learn more about his work, see his instagram and website.