The Elevate Collection Podcast

Black, Queer, and Digitally Divine: The Dorian Troy Experience

• Alexandria Reed & Jordan Hawkins • Season 2 • Episode 7

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Dorian Troy, an Atlanta-based digital and visual artist, shares his journey from drawing comic books as a child to launching his own art business during the pandemic and exhibiting at prestigious events like Art Basel. His work integrates Afrofuturism with Southern culture, creating pieces that give voice to the unheard and ensure Black people see themselves represented in the future.

• Believing in yourself is crucial for entrepreneurial success, especially when facing rejection
• Creating your own opportunities rather than waiting for traditional systems to validate your work
• Making art accessible to communities that have historically felt excluded from art spaces
• Digital art deserves the same respect and recognition as traditional fine art mediums
• Art should make people feel something, even if that means making the comfortable uncomfortable
• Supporting artists through following them online, buying their work, and connecting them with opportunities
• Representation matters in art, especially for Black, Southern, and queer identities

Follow Dorian Troy on Instagram at Dorian Troy Studios and visit his website at www.doriantroystudios.com to purchase limited edition prints.


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Remember: Your influence is just the beginning. Your legacy is the destination.

See you soon, where influence meets legacy.

Speaker 1:

Welcome to another episode of the Elevate Collection podcast. Y'all are always in for a treat and I know I say that, but we just happened to come into contact with some incredible people. And this person we actually met at Art Basel last year, or I mean before Art Basel, but when we really got to connect and see and be in his energy, his aura, the magic, all the things. Today we have Dorian Troy, an exquisite artist of the podcast. Welcome to the podcast.

Speaker 2:

Thank you. It feels so good to be here. Like I am very excited. There's honestly no two people I love more than one of my first podcasts during this tour. Like I've been waiting to get comments. We've been trying to find the right time and I'm like this is perfect timing because you are so busy, I'm so busy and so I'm just glad we get to have this conversation we're grateful that you want to spend time with us and do this.

Speaker 1:

This is we love just connect. So we're grateful that you want to spend time absolutely what a blessing.

Speaker 3:

Well, before we get it, let's tell our listeners a little bit about who you are. Dorian Troy is an Atlanta-based digital and visual artist who integrates Afrofuturism and Southern culture. His personal affinity for art has taken shape over time, from drawing comic books of Black superheroes with his best friend to creating intimate series as an adult. Art has always been his chosen outlet of expression to share his dreams with the world. Dorian Troy's work is inspired by his life and family experiences in Gullah South and his personal identity, growing up Black and queer. As an artist, he creates pieces that connect the unconnected and provide a voice to the unheard. He hopes that his work inspires an emotion that sparks a change in how we view society and ourselves, to one of truth, positivity and love.

Speaker 2:

That's all true.

Speaker 1:

We believe you and we get to experience you, so we know it's true. But for those that are experiencing you through the frequency of the airwaves if you're listening to us, if you're watching us that gets you at least witness this energy that is. Dorian, can you tell everyone how we got here?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely so. I'll start with just and Dorian. Thank you for reading the bio so beautifully.

Speaker 2:

For me, getting to where I am today, I've been an artist my entire life and my father was very artistic. My mother not so much. She's a scientist, we'll deal with that but for me it was always an escape for me, just kind of growing up, you know, I was trying to divorce and things like that, and I always wanted to create my own worlds and so I did that through artwork. I was drawing, I was sketching, I was kind of creating these worlds and I would create stories along with them and that really built over time into actually building a business out of it. So in 2021, during the pandemic, I wanted to create an art collection and through that, I wanted to create a business and really take my art more seriously, to connect with people and to build what I hope to become an art empire that, you know, not only builds art for people but also brings people into the art world, and that's always why I point out that connecting and connected. And then from there, things just shot off. I did my first print collection when I launched my business in 2021.

Speaker 2:

By 2023, I had moved to atlanta. I was reaching out to galleries. I didn't get um into a couple of them, so I did my own gallery show, brought people to that one on tour, met you all at art basel and then from there it's now starting my second tour, um in cities. That um I'd never been frequented before and, you know, recently gave connected with Shirley Ralph and gave her a piece, and so to go from where I started to now. It's just been a beautiful journey and I just believe, you know, believe in yourself it's something that we've talked so much about like believe in yourself and connect with people who believe in themselves so that you can continue to be inspired and kind of like shoot forward because you're the only one stopping you from getting to where you need to be you're a year, your own worst enemy, austin, and so getting through that is huge.

Speaker 1:

I want to point out something that you said that is so, I think, monumental in the success of entrepreneurs, specifically entrepreneurs of color. You said you created, you built your own table, you created the opportunity, you tried to get in their way. Try to do it the way that the system, the stereotypical structure, says that you're supposed to get into the space and so you built your own table. Can you walk me through the emotional part of what appears as rejection? Yeah, appears that I'm very sure, using that word.

Speaker 2:

It appears as rejection to the then redirection of let me build this table myself absolutely so, and I love this that appears as rejection, because to me, like the rejection we see is physical, right, Like it's in the material world, it's something, it's a decision that someone made right. But you know, it's really just and this is my recording an elevation right Into where you're supposed to be and, like I said, a redirection, because something else is happening spiritually and something else is redirecting you into a different pathway. And so, for me, I moved to Atlanta with big dreams. I was in DC for about five years, you know I was in a circumstance where I had to move home and I was trying to figure out, like what, like, what is next, where am I going to go?

Speaker 2:

And something about Atlanta just spoke to me and so I ended up moving down here and I was just going to different kind of gallery shows and things like that and presenting my artwork. And hey, I'm a digital artist and I kind of do this and you know I would, I would see some interest, but then I would never get a. You know, once I'd send an email, I would never get a call back, and so, you know, I was a little disappointed at first, but I already was in a new area and even like neko to an area like some of us. We get that drive like it's like okay, like'm going to just kind of keep going. And I remember meeting. There was this studio owner, this black woman, her name is Cairo, and she had you Studio down on David Abernathy. And I remember looking at the fee to rent the space and I was like, oh, I can pay that. And so I rented it and I said I'm going to just create my pieces for my collection and I'm going to put it in this gallery, and this is a collection I was working on since 2020.

Speaker 2:

And so me taking those three years to, you know, create that, or four years of Swin24 and then, you know, do my own show. It just all really came together and it was real about believing in myself and it was about utilizing my own community, my own resources. I invited everyone in my family and friends to come to the show and everybody came, and the one thing I heard from that was that, you know, that stuck with me was Dorian. I never thought I would go to an art show, and to hear that from people who, whether because of access or just because they don't see art as something that is for them, it made me feel good to say, okay, I'm supposed to be doing this and now I need to share with more people, because that's what it's about, that's what you all do I can't deal with.

Speaker 1:

Today. We have been podcasting all day y'all and it's just. It's been such a gift, so thank you for that. Um, do you walk through you the? Also? I know I'm picking apart of things that you're saying, but I just feel like there's just some nuggets in there that I know that you can help somebody with that is listening to this episode. You said that and you figured like, okay, I can afford that, I can make that happen, I can do that. But then you talked about an attendee that said I never thought I would go to an art show.

Speaker 1:

Yeah a lack of awareness. Does it come from like lack of accessibility or like? The thought process around what is accessible, or does it come from a lack of cultural appreciation, given the specific genre of your art, I think it's all three of those things, um, I want to dive into two of those.

Speaker 2:

So one like the cultural appreciation mixed with brand, right. So I think the art world doesn't always have the best brand, and so it can look stuffy, it can look um, it can look and appear inaccessible. Sometimes it is, but there's a lot of free museums, especially art museums, right, but people don't look at that as something that they want to do or should be a lot of free museums, especially art museums, right, but people don't look at that as something that they want to do or should be a part of, or, if they do, they just don't take the time to do it. So that's number one. So I think me, being someone who's very community driven and it has the brand as someone who has a good time, enjoys themselves, connects people, it felt like it could become accessible. That's one, but I think two I mean I think completely right is in that there is an accessibility issue in general to the art world, because when it comes to high profile exhibitions or if it looks like, if you look at high profile artists, some of those things are very expensive. Bond art can be very expensive, and so when I talk to friends about collecting art, I'm like, well, that's why you should support local artists who are in the beginning of their careers, because one you can actually have access to larger pieces because they're selling at a usually a lower rate when they start right. But then that's going to build over time and it's going to mean something.

Speaker 2:

And as an artist, I always said I don't want to wait till I pass for my art to make money for my family or my community or my, you know, the generations to come. I wanted to do that now so I can build on that and capitalize on that. So that's why I'm so big on making sure that people support art and not just my own. But I highlight other artists all the time because we're all different, because we're all different and people don't buy art for the art. They buy art a lot of times for the artists and they want to have a piece from that artist. Sometimes they don't care what it is, and so all of that just understanding I'm learning as I go and I'm open about that Like I don't know everything about the art whatever. With art school, you know, I went to my friend at A&T, Aggie Pride. I always haggies and, um, I didn't go to art school so I didn't know the ins and outs. Everything I'm learning is on the fly and it makes it sometimes more difficult.

Speaker 3:

But it also makes it sometimes more fun because I can be animated, because I think the rest is bliss sometimes, and you're as you go I think, as a consumer, you're spot on and I think these fears and concerns transcend races, culture and religion all of them because even from very different demographics. I think the fear of rejection is innate in us and to me it's personal right, like I do love you as an artist and care about you and I adore your work. But there is something very intimate and personal about being like how much is this art piece? And then being able to be like, oh, I actually can't afford that, and then having to tell an artist that, like I can't afford that. There's something really scary as a consumer that felt like I never want to devalue your work.

Speaker 3:

I'm like, oh, $1,400, like that's a lot, you know, and I think it's something that we don't, we don't talk about enough, Like I would never want to tell an artist like oh sorry, that's too much, because, like, you're totally worth it and I think there's fear around that in the consumers. Like I think a lot of people don't ask because they're afraid of the price or they're afraid of saying no, or they're afraid of the pressure of like if I ask you like, then I need to pay for it. Does that make sense?

Speaker 2:

No, I completely ask you, but then I need to pay for it. Does that make sense? No, I completely get that. I worked at my shows because I guess on my first uh tour last year I didn't sell any pieces on purpose, like nothing was for sales, all to showcase, and because I didn't want anyone to have that fear. Right, I'm like, well, I'm not gonna go because I don't want there to be an expectation that I buy something, because that is often when we go to events, that is somewhat of an expectation. Right, and I feel that you know, for me it's important to build just that rapport with people to know, like, no, I'm creating the space for you all to come in and enjoy art.

Speaker 2:

This time around I am selling pieces because I'm saying this is a business and the only way that my art is going to make more money is to sell pieces. And, um, on this art tour I have had people who end up buying them or who I said was low-balling, and I think one thing that's been interesting to me is finding out, like, how to price and like it is such a weird I always I get very funny about money, like I am very, and you start wanting to charge people for things you know, especially friends and stuff, because I'm like, oh, like you know, it's my friend Like, all right, I used to do gorgeous stuff and I'm like, oh, I could have made, you know, a little buck off of that. But you know, as you grow, you start to realize and set you set the tone. And also, if I set a price for a piece, it lets some people know, oh, like this is, I'm gonna buy it today, but I want to buy a piece one day. And some people aspire and they tell me they're like, oh, like, I know, I want to buy a piece from you one day.

Speaker 2:

So, you know, I'm going to continue to work and not just to buy stuff from you, but just in general, like I want to be able to do that. And so I think it's important to set the price and set your price. But I also think it's important to create ways for everyone to still be involved, like that's why I do prints, because because I'm like we can get a print that's, you know, maybe a hundred dollars compared to a piece that's like 1800. So it's so many ways to do it and I think there's a way to do it ethically and openly. That isn't um just hitting people over the head it's.

Speaker 3:

It's such a common thread in business that, no matter what industry that you're in, like as we're building, we're pricing. Like how do you put a price on your value? It's scary. You're like, oh it's too much, oh it's too little, and then you and then you change it and and then you really have to recognize, like, the value of your time and and what you are building and what your goals and dreams are yeah, and your value, your time can change and I think that's like.

Speaker 2:

The one thing that's been hard for me is like I once I set something that has to be. It might have been just price, but, but just like standards, right, or like what I would do. And one day you might be feeling good and you're like, oh, I can do this for free or I can do this, you know, um, I have a free, but I can just extend myself and do this job or whatever, and the next day you might not be able to do the same thing for someone else, and that is okay. And I think you know we put so much pressure on ourselves as business owners to be perfect all the time and again set that standard and get that be it. But I think allowing flexibility into your life even though it's easier said than done, it can make things a lot easier because there's less pressure to be like, well, this is the only way I can go.

Speaker 3:

I love that. We're new to the art world, but we love it here.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I mean y'all brought me higher to the art world, but we love it here. Y'all brought me higher to the art world, so I appreciate it some opportunities are just meant to be on your path.

Speaker 3:

We joked around about Art Basel like early in the year, last year it was a joke. We'd never been to Art Basel, I'd never been to Miami at all, I'd never even stepped foot into Miami. And then we got the opportunity to host a space two weeks prior to the event. And then that so we like started building it and we're like frantic right. And then that space revoked access because they said they didn't think our demographic was actually correct for them. And so we were like okay, maybe this isn't right. And then another space came to us. That was the second space. Yeah, yes, that was the second space. And thank God for our great friend, nick Green. Nick Green is Shout out to you, nicky boy, nicky G, we couldn't do it without you. Nick, just really an incredible connector who believes in us and is like hey, I think you guys can do this. And so we put that together in two weeks and, like the fact that we did that and we got to meet you, like I feel like some things are just meant to be on your path.

Speaker 2:

I mean completely. I just one. I remember you know somebody like later on that you booked it. She went off like there's no way, like that was an amazing, fantastic event Like I one event like I won it just again.

Speaker 2:

The way that everything connects is super amazing and the only reason that I was able to come to arbozzles because I went to a friend's giving and my friend asked me to do a live painting, like joking, and I just did some live painting. I've never done live painting like since college, like it was like from one time, yeah, one time in college like, because I do almost work is digital now, so I don't paint a lot like, even like physically as often, um, and it's something I want to get back into. But, yeah, I did that live painting and, uh, brandon, who's friends with jeff fran, um, he saw it and he said, hey, I have a ritual for you and let me. He often tell me. He called me.

Speaker 2:

I said, oh, absolutely, I'm down, built the, booked the hotel and then got there and I'm like it was something in me that said, whatever comes up, go for it. And when I did it, just the alignment and I think, jordan, we've been first, we did. I was like oh yeah, I'm here from Atlanta, you're from Atlanta, I'm from Atlanta. Oh, oh my God, this from there, really, you know, coming back having Thai food and just friends forever.

Speaker 3:

And I'm like that is, then, the brown and white man. It is, and I think it really speaks to who you are as a human, though, because that moment that we met was incredibly chaotic, and we were such a place of peace for me and you were like, hey, I'm here, I'm an artist, I'll set up wherever you want me to. How can I? I'm like I'm trying to put together these easels I've never done anything in art Like help me. And you're like, hey, I've got it. And then all night you just sat there doing your chalk painting and it was absolutely incredible. I just remember looking over and you just smile, and it was just a sight to see. So thank you for your calm presence in creating inviting spaces and communities. Thank you.

Speaker 2:

I mean, and that's what it's all about, and I will say, like, one thing that I want to share with people is, yes, you have to be talented, but you also have to be good, and I think people forget that because it's the only thing that gets wrapped up in the business and the opportunities and things like that and hard people lose their way and I've lost my way before and, like you always have to, like, go back to who you are, because that is what people connect with and I appreciate being a connector. I know you both are connectors and I think that if you're gonna really make it in this world, like we have to have that humanity, you have to have a connected spirit, because there's going to be a time where you're going to need someone. There's going to be a time where someone's going to need you, and, either way, you have to find a way to make that happen and be available when the time comes.

Speaker 1:

I love that you are someone who is going all in on your art. I curious with your art, is there a certain impression or impact that you desire to make with what you're putting out into the world?

Speaker 2:

that's so good. So I always, when I really was coming up with my like who I wanted to be as an artist once I really was becoming a professional artist was I want to make the comfortable uncomfortable and I want to make sure that the unheard are heard. And I say that because there's I feel like in life, especially nowadays, everything has to be palatable, everything has to be acceptable and aesthetically pleasing, and I want to be the reverse of that and not just to be a contrarian. But I want I feel like true art has to like you feel something. And uncomfortability doesn't mean like pain, it could just mean like, like love is uncomfortable, like it, like you know, hope can be uncomfortable, but I want people to feel these things themselves as artists.

Speaker 2:

That's also my art to convey. And the reason why I'm an Afrofuturist artist specifically is because we've been in a space for centuries where Black people don't always see themselves represented in the future, and so I wanted to create work that did that, whether that be for Black men, black women, black queer folk, and that is why it's so important for me to paint from that perspective and to create those pieces, because we all should see ourselves in the future. And when people see my work, I want them to see that. So that is really where it comes from, and I hope that I do that.

Speaker 1:

I love that this is probably going to be a little bit of a. I don't care if it's controversial because, like that TikTok trend, like I'd rather eat a five by seven rug than not be authentic to myself. But the question surrounding your specific genre of art, of course, with the intentionality that you have behind it. What are your thoughts on the comment, especially when you're talking about black folks seeing themselves like in the future, in futuristic art, when people use the term I, I don't see color.

Speaker 2:

I understand. So, as a person, let me. I am someone who always says I can understand why someone says or believe something. It doesn't mean I agree with it, but like I get where you're coming from. Like I think it's impossible to do that I truly do. Like I think it's almost impossible to see socioeconomic status. Like I think these are all things that have imprints on who we are as people.

Speaker 2:

You can look at someone and say, oh, your hair is curly. Now I have a, I think about something about that, right. Or your hair is wavy. Or you know, oh, you wearing black today, and someone's never imprints on why you're wearing black. Like there's always a or a bias. Like it doesn't even matter about, you know, race, it's, it's people have a bias about anything because we're such as, um, we're such a aesthetic based culture and so for. Like, like, no, like I don't agree with that. Like at all, um, and that's why I do what I do, because you're gonna see this black ass art. Can I curse on this silly? But that I was curious about that, because that's why I do what I do because you're going to see this black ass art.

Speaker 1:

Can I put some of this Silly? But I was curious about that because that's exactly what was my mindset, because you know it's the same mindset of when you know folks will be like I use the example not about the organization or anything, but the commentary around Black Lives Matter, right, that all lives matter. I never said all lives didn't matter. We're just talking about the current position and emphasizing because of you know I can go on a tangent there, so we won't. But that to me is the equivalent of saying like, oh, I went and did the breast cancer walk, well, why don't you do the MS walk? I didn't say like I didn't support MS. This is just what I am currently advocating for. This is what I'm currently, or what I'm currently connected to, that I've become, you know, more attached to, whatever it is. I think it's the same exact thing.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely, and I think there's space for all of it and that's why I'm saying like I'm going to be a Black artist through and through, I'm going to be a queer artist through and through, and that was harder for me than painting Black art, because painting Black art is like there's Black art, black art out there, right, but even within my own community there's uncomfortability with queer representation and queer art. There's uncomfortable, uncomfortably with nudity, like I have pieces that have female nudity in it, male nudity, and so it's like I go much so I want to make the comfortable uncomfortable. It's like, and my art may not be for you, but it's going to be here and you should question why it's not for you and that doesn't have to be it's perfect yeah, and it doesn't have to be a and it doesn't have to be a thing.

Speaker 2:

Right, it doesn't be like a big deal, like I'm not, I don't think everything's for everyone, but you should ask yourself why. There's things that I'm uncomfortable with and I ask myself why all the time. You know why, like, why does that? Why does, why do I feel something shipped to me when I see this thing? You know, and then once you do that, once you ask that question, then you can unpack and decide. You know, is that because of past trauma? Is it because of the media or something you see today? It's because of how you were raised, and then you can decide okay, do I want to change that and shift that, or am I okay with that and I want to keep that packaged up Because everybody's not ready to.

Speaker 1:

So I just wanted to let them yeah let them.

Speaker 2:

And I think for me, like I will always be an artist who speaks truth, and there are times where even I am afraid to put something out because of how it will be received. Like I am terrified of going viral. Like I always say that I am, I do not want that to happen. I'm a very social person, but not social media. Like it is because of, again, how people interpret things. But that is the risk you take as a creative. You know you're supposed to put it out there and let people react to it and it is up to them to decide how that makes them feel.

Speaker 3:

We are based in Atlanta. Makes them feel we are based in Atlanta, so Afrofuturist Art is probably accepted much differently here than some of the other cities.

Speaker 2:

On these tours have you experienced that at all? Funny enough, I would say, I think it was accepted everywhere. So I'll say the biggest one that was like oh, how's this going to go? Was my hometown, raleigh. Raleigh, north Carolina. There's a show in Durham, which is right next door, and so all my family came and again I got some nudity in the photo and I was like, oh, how's it going to feel?

Speaker 2:

I painted something that represented my father and my grandparents. My grandparents had, um, they're both deceased, but they've had, they had, uh, both mental illness, um, you know, uh, alcoholism. They faced different things like that and I painted, I made a painting about them. It was my kind of like archival piece, like the premier piece from that collection, and my dad, my birth father, came um and who was my namesake, dorian Troy. My dad's name is Troy and he came to the show and he saw the piece and I had to explain what that piece was about to him there and that was one of the scariest things I've ever had to do, because I love my father. We haven't had the closest relationship growing up, but I wanted him to get the healing because that piece was dedicated to him and his parents and so for me that was scarier than going to la and people who I've you know, some people I've never met seeing that work, because this is someone who is living my father's moment since I was, you know, born, so that was probably the hardest.

Speaker 2:

Everywhere else. I've gotten a lot of great reception and a lot of great feedback from people saying I did not know you could do that. I didn't know you could paint guns digitally and art is digital work, and I think that in the fine art world there are people who don't see digital art as fine art and one of my missions is to prove that it is. So that I've been getting great reception so far. I'm excited to see, you know there was usually the right person to say, because I only want and I'm going to hit that one what the goals do you have for the future?

Speaker 3:

because they're the only one and I'm going to hit that one, wendell, it's not right here. What new goals do you have for the future?

Speaker 2:

So I'm in the middle of my second leg of my short. We were off the show last night. We're high up, and so I have a Houston show in two weeks and then I have my last show in Charlotte, which I actually dedicated to my brand weather I lost two months ago. This is all thank you, but being able to do that for her because she never got to see a show like it brings joy, and so that's my biggest goal was like to make sure that that Charlotte show all my family is coming brings to our local, to that, that something like the big finale to the Soul Collection that I'm excited about. I'm excited about hopefully, in December we have something great coming up our Basel and I know next year is going to be. I know end of this year is going to be really good, but I know next year there's going to be something really big that happens.

Speaker 2:

I don't know what it is yet and feel it. I feel it and I know I'm on a trajectory to where I'm gonna go, something just like I can't look back from and, um, I'm just praying to be in the right space so that I can, I can have it started to make that decision. Um, but a dream I have is doing a residency. I want to do an arts residency over neither in. I would love to study in Italy or study in Mexico City, which I love. It's an amazing art city because, again, I didn't go to art school. So I've been looking into residency programs because I think getting away and just finding into culture and letting it inspire my heart for like three, six months would be amazing. So that's something I really want to do.

Speaker 1:

I love that. Well, that's one want. If there is anything that our listeners or community, anyone we're connected to, anyone that is under the sound of our voices or on the other side of watching this video podcast, what would your one big ask be? What is one thing that you could not even one? What are the things that you could ask for that you believe would move your needle forward?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so I have three things that always I am always asking for is, like my call, stash and to people who want to support the arts. So one definitely follow artists online, like following us really and interacting and engaging with what we post. It really helps propel us forward. So for me and Dory Joy Studios on Instagram is the best platform to follow me on. I'm always posting about my work, about my shows, about my tour. I'm going to be able to see all of that, so follow me there.

Speaker 2:

The second is investing in artists, and so I have prints available online for my current collection. They're available in wwwdurangetourstudioscom. You can go there. You can see the prints are available. You can buy them there. I signed all of them. They're limited edition, so there's only a specific amount in their release, which is another point for thing for me as a artist is to, um, let me let people be special. You know of what they have, but again, still doing at a price that is affordable.

Speaker 2:

And then, uh, lastly, um, connect me. That is the biggest thing. Um, I am always looking for new opportunities to meet other artists and people who are in the art space, art enthusiasts. That is always a great opportunity. That's how I met these two old fillets. I'm always looking for new opportunities to do that, and so connect me with people in the art world, connect me with people who, you believe, support the arts, so that we can continue to kind of grow this kind of art movement and mission that we have specifically for Black artists and queer artists. And then, lastly, just support your local arts programs. The arts are in other states They've been in other states since I wasn't schooled where they're trying to cancel our programs and not invest in the arts. So support them in any way you can.

Speaker 3:

Oh well, we're so glad that you're and not invest in the arts. So support them in any way you can. I love that. We're so glad that you're here. Before you go, we'd love to know how are you elevating your frequency to stay inspired as you create this incredible art? What do you currently have on repeat?

Speaker 2:

So on repeat right now there's this amazing song called Ooh La La. It is by Kik Trenari and Justin Sky. It is like house music, it is just like a vibe. I play it when I'm like working out, I play it when I'm doing my artwork, like that is really traveling right now. And also it's on repeat the new Clipse album Like Shout With Pushed and Malice, like they hit it out the park. I love it. I was playing it on the way here and I was like no, I love it because it was so good.

Speaker 1:

I love it and I had this like bodily urge to go. I'm yo Pusha. I'm Pusha on my team.

Speaker 2:

It's so good so y'all stream it.

Speaker 3:

We'll be adding it to the Elevate your Frequency playlist so you can follow along and elevate your frequency at home. Dorian, thank you so much for joining us and thank you for sharing your art with the world, and we can't wait to see you achieve all those goals that you have set.

Speaker 2:

Thank you. Thank you so much. I look forward to helping you all out as you continue to grow as well, because I love seeing what you all do. It really does inspire me.

Speaker 1:

Dorian's art is beautiful. We'll place all the links and all the things in the show notes so you can do that. You'll see it on socials, all the things, but his art hangs in our homes too, and we were so blessed to be gifted to experience his art. And I promise you, his art radiates an energy that you cannot explain. So make sure you grab yourself a great piece so you can feel special too.

Speaker 2:

Thank you. Thank you so much.