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The VELO Road Trip Beyond Boundaries: Houston
Local artist Kimmiski Adams on how to paint outside the lines with an epic day in the HTX.
April 19, 2021
Of all the things that come to mind when asked about her hometown of Houston, digital artist and graphic designer Kimmiski Adams brings up the omnipresent temptation of barbecue. âIâm trying to be plant-based, but sometimes you canât help yourself when the Texas air smells like barbecue in the summer,â quips the 30-year-old. Adams has lived in the stateâs largest metropolis for about twelve years, bouncing from the suburbs to the countryside, eventually landing the city proper, where sheâs become a fixture in the local arts scene. âMost of the time I hang out in places that cater to the arts, like galleries, where I can meet other artists for insight and inspiration,â she says. âHouston definitely influences a lot of what I paint culture-wise.â Unlike oversaturated art markets in New York and Los Angeles, Adams contends that Houstonâs âthird-coast perspectiveâ creates more opportunity for emerging talent to develop a fanbase. âItâs still pretty competitive, but the beautiful thing is that Houston is still so wide open that you can create your own movement,â she says. âHere, itâs different strokes for different folks.â As a result, fellow Houstonian creatives tend to stay, flourish, and pay it forward rather than seeking greener pastures elsewhere. âHouston has a large community of artists that tend to be less opportunity-hungry for personal gain and more focused on helping the city grow.â