Artists We Love: Keya Tama

INTERVIEWED BY Amelia Brown

VISI caught up with South African multimedia street artist Keya Tama (aka Jack Fox), who now lives in LA and who recently did a run of collectors’ T-shirts with MR P, to find out more about all the projects he has on the go.

How did the name Jack Fox come about and which name do you go by?

Foxes were my favourite animal when I was younger, so I did graffiti under the name “Fox” to begin with. Later I added ‘”Jack” because to me it represents a strong, manly archetypal character, common in folktales, and it fitted my work’s aesthetic. Now I go by Keya Tama, my given name.

You’re a multidisciplinary artist, producing music, filming, animating, illustrating, painting… What’s your first love? 

My first love is illustration. As a kid I drew constantly and this has allowed me to retain my imagination and ideas from that time. Everything else I do creatively feels like an extension of the same feeling I get when drawing. Slowly I am bringing all my different mediums together.

You’ve been participating in the art world since you were 13. How did you develop your style?

Initially my style was influenced by cartoons, graffiti and skate culture, as well as the many great artists who I was surrounded by at a young age. But mostly I was just so in love with drawing, that slowly my work has transitioned from stick figures into what it is today.

You have creative parents. How much did that influence your work? 

My father, Tyler B Murphy, is a tattoo artist. He has shaped the way I appreciate and engage with art as a whole. Because of him I have a love for storytelling and youth culture, as well as having a sense of respect and loyalty for artists coming up with me – all of which influence my work.

My mother is an artist, too, and works under the name Faith XLVII. She has inspired me massively to be creative and to continuously push myself harder. To this day I have never met anyone who works harder and is more passionate than her.

As I was growing up, I travelled to street art festivals around the world, which is how I was introduced to, and slowly became involved in, creating street art.

What are you working on at the moment?

Currently I’m putting together a graphic novel and an animation pilot, designing a small clothing line, and creating some works for an upcoming exhibition in January 2019 at Cartoon Network in California.

How do the murals come about and do you have any planned?

I’m often commissioned to paint murals, but sometimes I will reach out and organise walls myself. I plan to paint one or two around Cape Town while I am in South Africa, as well as work on a few collaborations with friends of mine in Joburg.

What, or who, inspires you? 

I am inspired by some ancient art. It can be highly emotive and simplistic, and offers a lot in a very raw and rich way. I have an appreciation for art that boils down the essence of someone or something to its truest form, as it forces the artist to really expose their expression unapologetically using minimal lines.

Contrasting ideas inspires me as well. I love when art engages me in a way that feels like it could only have been created now. This not only gives me energy and a desire to make more art, but also drives me to create something as refreshing and visually cutting. Some friends of mine whom I find inspiring are Elléna Lourens, African Ginger, the Meekel sisters, Johnny Allison, Richard Horne, Florian Snyman and, most recently, an artist from LA named Sik Kid.

Tell us about the collab with MR P. 

A while ago, I designed a poster for a MR P competition and won. As part of this, I designed an international campaign with the brand. I travelled around South Africa and then to Australia to paint artworks inside various MR P stores; the stores I didn’t paint personally had vinyl artworks of mine installed. More recently I designed a T-shirt with them, along with many other great South African artists, including a new favourite of mine, Karabo Poppy.

Is there anyone you would love to work with? 

I would love to work with Cleon Peterson, Jean de Wet, Shepard Fairey, James Kerry Marshall, Donald Glover, Mura Masa, Gucci and Wes Anderson.

If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?

Probably a journalist. I feel like storytelling is at the heart of my desire to be an artist.

Career highlight? 

I’d have to pick two so far: painting a piece of the Berlin Wall and painting at Cartoon Network Studios.

What is the last piece of design/art you purchased?

The last artwork I bought was a piece by Richard Horne. He’s a close friend of mine, and I was really happy to get the chance to buy my favourite work of his.

Are you on Instagram? Who should we all be following?

Yes, @keyatama. You should follow some of my artist friends, @ellenalourens, @johhny1allison, @adult_fiction, @meek.meekier.meekest, @african_ginger and @richardhorne_.

Five year plan?

I plan to continue doing street art around Los Angeles, as well as globally. I am focusing on painting larger canvasses and moving more toward colour in both my private and public works. I aim to start bringing all the different mediums together, creating a consolidated narrative that runs through my work.

Stay up to date with Keya on Instagram and his site, and check out more of VISI’s Artists We Love.