Meet Kim Watson

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

Hi Kim, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
What was your thought process behind starting your project, TRESPASS: Portraits of Unhoused Life, Love, and Understanding?

I feel like everyone sees the unhoused all over the city, but few people get to know who they truly are. People walk by without a glance or a word as if the homeless are invisible, so when I started TRESPASS I wanted to open everyone’s eyes to their gifts and talents, struggles, and their dreams. I wanted to show our shared humanity because it could happen to any one of us. I hope the stories and images in the book help build empathy and deeper caring for our family, friends, and neighbors who live on the streets of Los Angeles.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think about what makes me different, all the time. An artist needs to create something that sets them apart or they get overlooked. I like to get close to my subjects and convey an intimacy that only comes with mutual trust and respect, that is probably my superpower and I am very honored that everyone in the book wanted to share their stories with me.

When I look back at my career, and I think the best is yet to come, I realize there is always room to grow. Striving for perfection is not the goal, for nothing is ever perfect, but striving to be the best I can be is something I can do every day. Creating art of any kind is a challenge and I’ve learned that you have to be consistent and work extremely hard, all the time, if you’re going to succeed. If you have something to say worth listening to, don’t give up, and you’ll find an audience.

I am fortunate to be able to share my art with others. Because I’m not limited to one medium, I can use various platforms to reach people, which means more exposure. The book allowed me to combine my writing with my photographs in a way I had never done before, and the upcoming documentary has a unique non-linear style that challenged me to push myself. It’s all very fulfilling.

I hope people experience something powerful when they open the book. I want them to feel a genuine connection with the subjects that inspire them to take action.

In the end I want my work to stand for integrity and truth-telling. That’s what TRESPASS is for me. Even when I reveal life’s darkest circumstances, I will do so with respect and in a way that reflects the beauty within the struggle.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are many people who helped me along the way as TRESPASS came together. I have to give a shoutout to my family, who encouraged me and understood that creating art that touched people’s hearts was the most important thing in the world to me. Witnessing their creativity, and receiving so much love and support from them enabled me to keep going when times got tough, and gave me the strength and determination to persevere. Of course, having a supportive wife who understands this crazy journey helps make my work possible.

Gordon Parks has always inspired me so I have to give him a shoutout too. His photographs captured something so truthful and real that, as a kid, I couldn’t turn my eyes away. His story-telling is powerful and I owe him big time. Any success I have, I owe to all of these people.

Website: www.kimwatsonart.net

Instagram: @kimwatsonart

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kim-watson-9226505

Twitter: @kimwatsonart

Facebook: Kim Mwatson

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVmfIjd06w_92GBEwx1F4Pw

Image Credits
All photographs by Kim Watson