Meet Justas Marcink | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justas Marcink and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justas, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
What most people don’t realize about being an artist is the extent to which you have to hustle. Aside from making the art, you have to document your work, network, advertise, figure out pricing, do submissions, installation, transportation, shipping, set up a website, and be consistent with social media, to name a few. It can all be very expensive and comes out of your own pocket.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always done art to entertain myself. Although art is a very saturated field with plenty of talented artists, it was important for me to pursue it for my own well-being. Whether it’s losing sleep over ideas or feeling depressed about life, it never fails to bring peace and happiness to my soul. As a practice, art to me is about complete self-indulgence and making art I’m excited by. The series I just finished is based on coloring books from my childhood. I wanted to play with the idea of making adults feel like kids again by physically dwarfing them with paintings that are six feet tall. It’s also a tongue-in-cheek take on the saying “My kid could do that” and what fine art can look like.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite all-in-one cultural stop in Denver is the Museum of Contemporary Art. Aside from exhibitions that are unpredictable and thought provoking, the building itself is breath taking, the staff has great style, the rooftop cafe has a stellar view and drinks, and the events they throw are eccentric and always a good time. I also enjoy going to the Botanical Gardens, whether it’s summer or winter, or going to Cheesman Park to hang out for hours at a time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The person I would like to dedicate my Shoutout to is Alexandra Stefanec. Alexandra lives a cohesive and dedicated lifestyle of what it means to be a professional artist. From her style, art, career, and even ways of thinking, nothing is unintentional or dull. We have been collaborating on various projects since we met at Metropolitan State University and have played a huge part in pushing each other’s careers forward and keeping the dream alive.

Instagram: @justas_marcink

Youtube: Justas Marcink