“I would love to see more zero-commission art spaces downtown. There are so many artists that deserve the opportunity to be seen and to be paid for their work.”— Wutang McDougal
In this episode of the Durham Artist Archive, I sit with Wutang McDougal, a queer Black visual artist, storyteller, and graphic designer who’s followed their intuition into a colorful arts career. We traversed their path from Leesburg, North Carolina to Durham discussing their early sketches of cartoons to high-profile work for the Sister Song podcast and Will Smith’s book launch. We dove deep into their illustration process and Wutang shared their design style evolution and ethos- something I was very curious about.
We talked about what it takes to build an art scene that pays artists, why creative freedom matters, and how to push past imposter syndrome with the help of collaborators who tell you the truth. There is Scrap Exchange tinkering, public art that meets people where they are, and a vision for Durham that feels generous, accessible, and loud with color. This episode feels super local with all of its classic Durham shout outs but also has invaluable advice for artists anywhere. It’s not one to miss.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:
* Ideas for how cities reactivate common space with art
* Moving through imposter syndrome and protecting your creative freedom
* How to explore ones personal design style and find comfort in it’s evolution
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Related Episodes
Connect with Wutang:
https://www.instagram.com/wutangmcdougal/
http://www.wutangmcdougal.com/
Connect with me:
https://www.instagram.com/alwhyssa.artlab/
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Additional Details:
Recorded at Queeny's in Durham
