Artist-In-Residence: Tate Irwin
“All of the pieces on display are meaningful to me—this is the first time they’re being shared publicly, and it’s exciting to finally let them be seen. I’m looking forward to hearing people’s interpretations and critiques; it’s all part of growing as an artist.”
For those who’ve stopped in our shop on weekday mornings, there’s a good chance you’ve already met Tate as one of our baristas serving up coffee—we’re so excited to showcase Tate’s artistic talent in our shop as our first artist-in-residence since re-opening this year.
We met Tate early this year when he put a resume in our mailbox and were impressed with his artistic work, as well as sharing a love of Alphonse Mucha that we felt made his art the perfect fit to set exactly the right vibe to welcome the neighborhood back into our shop.
We caught up with Tate to learn more about his work and inspirations as an artist—check out our full interview with Tate and stop by on Saturday May 10 at 6:00 p.m. for Ballard ArtWalk to say hi:
Could you describe your art style? What kind of art did you choose to put on display?
My style is inspired by Alphonse Mucha, Hayao Miyazaki, and James Jean, with additional influence from tattoo design. I focus heavily on linework and color in both my digital and painted works, while my charcoal and graphite pieces aim for a more realistic and refined look.
The artwork on display highlights my range as an artist. In my digital pieces, I explore everything from detailed landscapes to bold, pop art-inspired characters. My work with charcoal allows me to delve into emotional themes, often using minimal or no color to let the medium speak for itself. The oil-painted skateboard features a recurring character I’ve developed, using the board as a unique surface to experiment and push my practice further.
How long have you been making art?
Have you always had a creative streak?
Art has been a significant part of my life since childhood. My mother, a very creative person herself, always encouraged me to explore different forms of art. From clay to painting, she made sure we had access to a variety of mediums by signing us up for camps and classes, nurturing that curiosity from an early age.
What are you hoping people take away from your art?
Some of my pieces are deeply personal, inspired by specific emotions I was experiencing at the time. Others come from a vision or idea I wanted to bring to life and are open to interpretation. Ultimately, I’m just excited for people to experience my work and hopefully enjoy it as much as I do.
Has your style or your process changed over time?
As I grow as an artist, my style consistently changes and evolves into something else piece by piece. The inspiration may be the same but the execution will always be different and ever changing.
Which work are you the most excited for people to see while it’s on display?
All of the pieces on display are meaningful to me—this is the first time they’re being shared publicly, and it’s exciting to finally let them be seen. I’m looking forward to hearing people’s interpretations and critiques; it’s all part of growing as an artist.
What’s something about you that might surprise people who only know you from your art?
I love reading fantasy, slack-lining in the park, obsessing over houseplants (proud parent of a Thai constellation), and making baked treats for my friends.
