Pope Gaskine didn’t like where he was headed in life before he became an artist. But that’s not what this story is about. His story is about the joy and gratitude that art has brought him. The structure and fluidity to create as he pleases. The ability to be deeply present as he creates but also as he moves through life and the opportunity to be an inspiration to his daughter. I spoke with Pope at Newfield's right outside of We. The Culture: Works by The Eighteen Art Collective to discuss how he is making his mark on art.  

Taylor Hurt (TH): How did you get your start in art? 
PG: It was kind of random. My mom bought me an art kit for Christmas right around the time my daughter was born. When I ran out of pages, I got inspired to go buy a canvas and kept going from there. I actually haven’t had an art class since 6th grade. When I first got those canvases after a month, I had 10 paintings. My daughter and I went to Houston, and I went to midtown and sold it. I was also playing music at the time but the reception I got while I was down there was amazing. I knew then that I could do this full-time. And I’ve been painting professionally for three or four years now. 

TH: Wow! So, you’re essentially self-taught. 
PG: Yeah. I remember going to the Eiteljorg Museum on a field trip as a kid and we were touching everything (laughs), but back then I was much more interested in music. I started playing the trumpet when I was in the 4th grade and that’s when I got into classical jazz and marching band. 

TH: How did you move over from music to art?  
PG: I don’t think of it as moving over. As creatives we have an opportunity to create in whatever medium we want. I still dabble in music. but visual art is my life and passion.  

TH: How did you end up connecting with The Eighteen and the Black Lives Matter mural? 
PG: I have a lot ideas that I want to share with the world. In the beginning it wasn’t about joining The Eighteen it was about painting the Black Lives Matter mural and getting my message out. My subject for the mural was the herbalist healer Alfredo Bowman called Dr. Sebi. I really connect with his message on health, inflammation, and disease and I wanted to be a part of the healing that I felt was necessary.   

TH: How has it been to be a part of The Eighteen Art Collective?  
PG: It’s been great. Music was more of a collaborative effort for me but when I came to art, I did a lot on my own until I became a member of The Eighteen.  I didn’t know a lot about the art world, so it’s been nice to have a community of people—especially those who have been doing this for such a long time. Israel Solomon who told me to paint every day and I take that with me. It helps me to build structure into my days. 

TH: What’s it been like learning about the art world? 
PG: It’s been a lot of fun. I’m thankful. And I’m grateful that I didn’t have a lot of formal training beforehand because everything feels new. Like recently I learned what a triptych is. and I don’t feel like people get excited enough when they hear that word. It’s a cool word but I also really love the concept—it comes from ancient Roman writing tablets, but in contemporary art it is three (tri) panels hung in close proximity to visually separate a story. 

TH: So, it’s like you’re viewing things through the eyes of a child, that’s fun! 
PG: I like hearing that because you know there’s a quote from Picasso that says it took me four years to paint like Raphael but a lifetime to paint like a child. 

TH: Speaking of children, you have a daughter! Does she inspire your art in any way? 
PG: Yeah! My daughter’s name is Eliza. Some of the things she brings back from school are amazing! I’ve even taken some of the stuff that she made in her art classes and fleshed it out into actual paintings and stuck hers to the side of it. And she says she wants to be an artist so that makes me proud. And I know that could change but so far, she’s been in it to win it so that’s cool.  

TH: So, it’s like you’re viewing things through the eyes of a child, that’s fun! 
PG: I like hearing that because you know there’s a quote from Picasso that says it took me 4 years to paint like Raphael but a lifetime to paint like a child. 

TH: That’s wonderful! What’s next? 
PG: I have a few shows coming up but I’m just going where life takes me. I’m thankful and I’m hungry. I’m going to continue to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.  

Choices will be on display in We. The Culture: Works by The Eighteen Art Collective in the Indianapolis Museum of Art through Sunday, September 24, 2023. You can check out Pope’s work on his Instagram @thepopebilly. 

Exhibition Credits: 
We. The Culture: Works by The Eighteen Art Collective is presented by Aaron Wealth Advisors, Gary & Hannah Hirschberg. Lead support is provided by Rachel M. Simon & the Herbert Simon Family Foundation and June McCormack. Associate support is provided by IceMiller and its Racial Equity Solutions Team. Additional support is provided by Judy Donner, Nathan & Deborah Oatts, and Emily A. West. 

Image Credits:  
Installation view of We. The Culture: Works by The Eighteen Art Collective in the June M. McCormack Forefront Galleries, September 23, 2022–September 24, 2023. Artworks © their respective creators.