#42 – How Can Art Help Us Reclaim the Joys of Childhood? | Elijah Trice

Baltimore-based artist and designer Elijah Trice returns to talk about growth, storytelling, and painting the everyday with dignity and joy.

Since our last conversation in 2022, Elijah has expanded his practice beyond hyperrealistic portraiture to explore themes of childhood memory and creative freedom. We recorded this just after his first solo show, Nothing Else Matters, which followed a transformative residency at Maryland Hall. Elijah shares how his architectural training shaped his painting style, what he’s learning from teaching, and why joy is radical in a world so often defined by struggle.

• How building furniture sparked a deeper connection to making
• Using vivid backgrounds and saturated color to honor Black elegance
• Tapping into nostalgia, storytelling, and his inner child
• The pros and cons of meticulous planning vs improvising in the studio
• Why nothing else matters—except the subject

🎧 Catch Elijah’s 2022 episode for more on his early work and evolution as an artist.

The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). 

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

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