Today we’d like to introduce you to Pharaoh Loren.
Hi Pharaoh, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story started in the very early years of elementary. Even at that age, I desired to create things no one had seen regardless of the teacher trying to keep me in a box. Also during these early years of elementary, I was bullied for my appearance – I had big glasses and had broken my front teeth in a bicycle accident. At the time I had no friends except a small stuffed rabbit (my best friend I did absolutely EVERYTHING with) which unfortunately fell into the hands of a bully. My rabbit was ripped apart and destroyed right before me. This is why my artist logo is the rabbit head and why rabbit themes appear in a lot of my works. Moving on, the bullying continued into my teenage years and at that point developed a skin condition which only made matter worse. During one of these horrible incidents (age 13), I suffered a mental breakdown and at that very moment, a world exploded into my head. A dark world preconceived by the negative connotations in the real world. This world was also influenced by other real world things like my love for horror films, the Alien films with heavy influences from the controversial Swiss artist H.R. Giger., and video games like Silent Hill. All these things combined created that dark world full of nightmarish monsters that were manifestations of my negative emotions. But I felt comfort there. It was somewhere I could go to deal with my real life horrors. Walking through this world in my dreams was like walking through a museum of the psyche – my psyche. Hence the name for my art brand The Dream Museum. As those years went on, my skills as an artist improved and continue to improve and evolve even to this day. I still stand by the goal I had as a kid – to create things the world has never seen. And what better way to that than to take those very dreams/monsters/nightmares and turn them into works of art? What better way to show the beauty that can be found in the dark? I stand by my work and continue to grow my brand in hopes that it resonates with people and makes them FEEL. I also intend to break into the film industry and bring my works to big screen. I am certainly at a good starting point making connections and networking at events. This is where I’m at now and I don’t intend to stop chasing that DREAM – no pun intended!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Haha absolutely not! Honestly I fall under two tropes – the struggling artist trying to be seen and the artist who does make money from their art, but just not quite enough to make a full-time living off of it. Another thing I struggle with is the type of art I produce. It is on the darker/macabre side of things so being featured in art magazines and galleries is difficult. Honestly, I feel people need to try and understand the emotion, the symbolism, or the metaphors behind it. Yes, some of my work has shock factor, but that isn’t the intention. The last challenge, and I can probably speak for other talented artists, is the accusation of AI art. I have been doing events/shows recently and I have to explain myself to people, I have to put up speed paintings on a screen so they can see the process, I have to explain that I have been doing art my whole life and that some people are just really good at the art they do. If anything AI steals from me – I cynically laugh at that but it’s most likely true.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Growing up, I started with all facets of traditional art – pencil, ink, water color, acrylics, you name it. I transitioned to digital art in college. Same process, time and effort, except when I make mistake, I can hit that lovely ‘undo’ button! That’s what I technically specialize in. Art wise, I specialize in horror – nightmare creatures, monsters, anthropomorphic beings, the female form, abstract anatomy, things that make the mind go “What am I looking at??”. I also like to blur the line between realism and surrealism in my works. I love creating dynamic scenes with dynamic lighting. Now that I think about it, I’m all over the place. My art style will changed based on my moods, but they all still contain that weirdness. That’s actually what sets me apart from others and also what I’m known for. I like to think my work is that outlandish and it really does speak for itself on its own. It really is the highest compliment when someone says they have never see work like mine and that is resonates with them on a deep level. In the proud sense, I am most proud of how I turned a horrible experience (bullying) into hauntingly beautiful works of art. I’m also most proud of my undying will to reach my goals. I’ll never stop creating – till the day I die or until my hands fall off. Dark Humor!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I can’t really can’t comment on that cause I don’t live in Austin.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thedreammuseum.com/
- Instagram: @thedreammuseum
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pharaohsdreammuseum/
