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

Hi DooWop, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Being a multidisciplinary artist, I have always been interested in starting a business. Something that reflects my personality and unique style. I feel that I have a lot to share with the world and starting my own business was a fun way to do that. Through the years, there has been plenty of trial and error with growing an art business but I feel that with “I Thought That Was Cake LLC”, I have finally found my groove! 

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I create fake cake and food art that mimics reality. Hence the name, “I Thought That Was Cake”. Pieces include handbags, lamps, sculptures, wearable art pieces, and street art currently. I never learned how to decorate cakes so it blows my mind that I am even doing this. I am very excited to see where this takes me. I imagine my pieces on runways across the world and having a full feature in Vogue magazine. The public always responds so beautifully to my pieces and I love seeing their eyes brighten up when they see my work. I have had a lot of different attempts when it comes to what my art business would represent. I was creating large scale pop art paintings for many years before this but there was something missing personally. I felt like the work wasn’t unique enough. It took me years to prefect what I am doing now. I have learned to not be afraid to fall down because you can always pick yourself back up again. And it’s ok to not be sure of what you want. A dream is a wonderful thing to have, there are no rules. I want the world to know that a Queer Black Girl from Southern California is making her mark on the world in fashion and fine art and they just better be ready because I am here to stay!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to visit me, I would first take her to the Broad Museum. She has never been and it’s something that I do many times a year. It’s like visiting all of my heroes in one place. So soothing. We would DEFINITELY get lunch at Pura Vita in West Hollywood because it is the BEST Vegan food in the world and we would get to hug Tara Punzone, who is a legend and my Virgo Vegan sister! Live music is a MUST for the week and hopefully my partner, Oscar has a gig that we can go to. We will drink happy hours and spend time in Venice Beach like we used to when we were younger. I would fit in some thrift and antique shopping as well so I can continue my search for more additions to my Barbie collection! We would hit up the Brewery Artist Lofts as well. I used to live there and I would want her to meet all of my amazing art friends there!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family, first and foremost. They have supported me and every single endeavor and adventure my entire existence. Even those questionable decisions that I have made, they had my back. My life partner, Oscar, is the very first person to see all of my work. He is also an artist and his work ethic inspires me to stay focused and to keep going. I have a very beautiful core group of friends who have become family as well. My best friend in the entire world is Renae. We met 20 years ago and have been bonded ever since. She believed in me and inspired me to be myself before I even knew I was onto something with my creativity. There is also an amazing artist called Plastic Jesus who is my mentor. He’s a living legend and to have been taken under his wing is such an honor. I always say he is the Warhol to my Basquiat. He encourages me to think outside the box and to take risks when it comes to art. I don’t know even know if ITTWC would exist without his guidance.

Website: https://ithoughtthatwascake.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ithoughtthatwascake/

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ithoughtthatwascake

Image Credits
DooWop Byrd Josh A Katz

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