Meet Drew Price | Artist

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

Hi Drew, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in a border town in southern New Mexico, raised by my father, my stepmother (who I will refer to as my mother from this point on as she raised me and I have not had a relationship with my biological mother since I was four years old), and her family. I consider them my family, and they embraced me fully and welcomed me into the family from the beginning. My grandfather immigrated from Mexico through the Bracero program when my mother was a child, and the community I grew up in reflected the bi-racial dynamic of our home—a mix of Mexican and white families, with Mexican households being the majority.

As a white child raised by a Mexican immigrant family, I spent much of my time in spaces where I was often the only “gringo.” In those spaces, I felt accepted and most at home, yet I was always aware of being different. Conversely, when I found myself in white spaces, where I looked like everyone else, I often felt less comfortable and more out of place. I grew up navigating this duality, feeling a sense of belonging and not fully belonging in both worlds.

I came to understand that life isn’t binary—people don’t fit neatly into categories. On paper, my community appeared divided—Mexican and white, affluent and poor, U.S. citizens and Mexican nationals. But those lines blurred when viewed through the lens of daily life. Social dynamics often cut across these categories, revealing a reality far more complex and interconnected.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I attended an art school that focused on classical painting and drawing. While those foundational skills were important to learn, I eventually realized there was a disconnect between the narrative inherent in representational painting and the visual concepts I wanted to explore. This realization led me to educate myself in abstract art and pursue a path that felt more in-line with my creative instincts.

Letting go of the academic approach—and the ego that often accompanies refined technical skills—was a difficult transition. Abstract painting required me to rethink what it meant to create, to embrace uncertainty, and to relinquish control. I spent several years after art school in a state of exploration trying to understand who I was as an artist and working to consolidate my thoughts and worldview into a conceptual framework that could guide my work.

I feel like I’ve finally arrived at a place where I have a deeper understanding of this framework and can delve into it with more intentionality. My current body of work is rooted in an exploration of paradox—a unification of opposites that is both conceptual and experiential. By setting up systems that oscillate between logic and arbitrariness, order and disorder, free will and determinism, I investigate the tension and harmony that exist within these dualities.

For example, I begin with a clear set of rules and structures to guide a visual process—a specific sequence of grids, armatures, and spatial divisions—but as the process unfolds, the system’s internal logic generates outcomes I did not predict. The initial structure, which once felt stable, becomes a site of chaos, compelling me to respond, adapt, and recalibrate. This recursive exchange between control and surrender is deeply compelling to me, as it mirrors the larger human experience of navigating societal, environmental, and psychological systems that operate in similarly unpredictable ways.

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.
Mostly we just would kick it and catch up. San Francisco makes it easy to have a good time without having to look too hard, it’s easy to find good food, art, and beautiful outdoor spaces. Dim sum would definitely be on the list, probably more than once. Overall, nothing too planned, just cruise the city and take things as they come.

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?
First and foremost, I want to give a heartfelt shoutout to my family, especially my wife and daughter. Their love, support, and grounding presence have been everything—without them, I have no idea where I’d be.

When it comes to art, I owe a great deal to the friends who have been important to me on my journey. Sheldon Greenberg, Tibor Simon-Mazula, Daniel Segrove, and Yığit Us—our conversations about art and life have been invaluable, fulfilling, and fun. Harun Antakyali, an artist friend I met while living in Turkey, offered his encouragement and support when I was first exploring the idea of seriously pursuing art and his impact was greater than he probably knows. And lastly, Kevin Moore, who believed in me as an art student and pushed me to go beyond what I thought I was capable of—his influence still resonates in my practice today.

Website: https://www.drewpriceart.com