Born in New York City and raised in South Carolina, Forbes featured artist Frankie Zombie has created a renaissance art movement. With a focus on contemporary abstract art forms and bold bright color, Frankie has tapped into the heart of interior design, thought provoking murals, automotive design, fashionable apparel, philanthropy, Civil Rights and much more.
He’s created art for some of the world’s beloved superstars: Pharrell Williams, Miley Cyrus, Celine Dion, as well as networks like TNT, HBO, BET, and the NBA. Frankie Zombie’s love for culture, equality, respect, and freedom took the forefront when he participated in a creative Civil Rights Movement as he helped create Charlotte North Carolina’s “Black Lives Matter” in 2020 mural and later organized his own 16 Artist “Black Lives Matter” mural in his hometown. As Frankie’s art continues to travel to new heights worldwide, his message will always shout happiness, persistence, and change.
DC: What is your favorite color, and why?
FZ: I’m too much of a student and fan of color to just choose one LOL! They all serve as different feelings to me, whether it’s through fashion, Art, interior design, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing, they all help me put the pieces together in some way.
DC: You’ve made a specific decision to use bright, bold color in your art. Would you tell us why, and how that’s changed your work and life?
FZ: Seven years ago, I walked into a doctor’s office with my Mom, and the doctor told her she’s been diagnosed with cancer. My mother was frantic and afraid. I realized everyone in the room at that point was afraid, so I grabbed my Mom’s hand and with a smile said to the doctor “Ok, so what do we have to do next?” At that point, my mother looked at me, and immediately shifted her energy to bravery.
At that very moment I decided in my work to reflect THAT moment forever by only using vibrant colors in the hopes of spreading love and healing.
DC: When beginning a new project, how do you decide which colors you will use, and how do they fit into the expression you are illustrating?
FZ: When I’m starting a new project I choose colors depending on a few things. What’s the tone/energy I want to feel? Is this a mural, painting, interior design project for a client . . . “What’s the art subject?” If it’s a commission for a client I take inventory on who they are as individuals, so that the work can still resonate with them all while still remaining myself in the work.
DC: Your public murals position your art as a civic act. What responsibilities do you believe accompany visibility in shared space?
FZ: I feel like my responsibility and purpose is to “bring the news” in my own unique way that God has blessed me with. Bringing the news of the world can be about anything from politics, to humanity, love, culture wins, and cultural struggles. Through that responsibility, I love the vibrant abstract approach, because it allows people to come with guards down, open arms, and smiles, before they even read the “message,” because essentially I want it to be a conversation that can be digested.
DC: When advising emerging artists, what is your most important message?
FZ: I always tell them first and foremost to BE THEMSELVES and forget the thoughts of money and “selling Art” . . . ask yourself “Why do you create? What’s my purpose? Am I growing in my practice?” or “Do I want instant gratification?”
I like to encourage them to take social media with a grain of salt. Everyone feels good about their work and creative path until they start scrolling social media and immediately start feeling like failures.
You have to believe in your work or no one else will.
DC: What do you hope your audience understands about bright, bold, vivid color?
FZ: I hope that through bright, bold, and vivid colors, people can understand and be open to the thought that these kinds of colors serve as healing, self expression, light, self reflection, encouragement, reassurance, and so many more things I could list for the rest of the day. I challenge the world to give bold colors a chance . . . they changed my life.