Meet Theodoor Grimes | ggggrimes | Digital Artist

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

Hi Theodoor, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I was lucky enough to have my creativity supported by my community from childhood. My mom encouraged me to join band in middle school, I took art classes at Parson’s with other winners from a city-wide art competition, and I majored in music in college. I was always the kid doodling in the margins of my notebooks, and carrying a folder full of plain paper everywhere so I could sketch to my heart’s content.

I struggled academically once I got into high school due to a vicious combination of racism, queerphobia, housing insecurity, and of course, depression. I almost failed out of school, and the expectations of adulthood were constantly on my back when I barely even wanted to be alive. During my last year of college, art became a bigger way for me to channel my emotions and get through the day to day. Even after 4 extra (expensive) years of schooling, I still wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life. Sometimes I feel like art chose me rather than the other way around. It was all that I had that I felt good about, that didn’t suck the life out of my soul, that I could imagine myself doing for years to come.

I bravely asked my mom and older brother to give me a year to figure my art career out post-graduation, and I just really went for it. I took commissions, got a website, and dedicated my life to my practice in every way possible. I think I was born to be an artist at some point in my life, even if this path doesn’t last forever.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art focuses almost entirely on queer people of color, with a concentration on trans people for the last 2-3 years. I love painting queer people in every scenario from wholesome to kinky. I explore fetish art in a way that feels comfortable and affirming for a large part of my audience. Similarly, I show queer people simply existing happily together, surrounded by love.

It hasn’t been an easy journey. I’ve been disappointed, passed over, disrespected, underpaid, or paid extremely late. Most challenges I overcame by learning to communicate clearly and ask for what I need. If someone doesn’t respect important boundaries for you, they’re just not a client you can work with at this time. This makes acceptance a really big part of growing as an artist too. I’ve been approached for projects with clients I couldn’t believe would want to work with me, only for them to offer a terrible budget or contract.

I stay true to myself. I say no far more than I say yes. I meet people halfway, and because I’m committed to that ideal, I love the work I do even more.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m going to start off strong by having them come over to my apartment in the Bronx to rest for the rest of the day. We’d chat, smoke if they partake, catch up, maybe make some cocktails. My partner and I love hosting, so dinner would be nourishing and most likely extravagant, especially if my partner is involved. The next day, I’d make us pourover coffee and a smoothie while Callum cooks up their amazing oatmeal pancakes.

The first outside activity is the Botanical Garden, only a 15 minute walk from our house. After a couple of hours of exploring the beautiful sights, we’d walk from the Garden to the OG Little Italy–Arthur Ave. We’d have amazing coffee from Delillo Pastry Shop, some fresh oysters from one of the fish markets, and a delicious Italian lunch at Zero Otto Nove. For a little chaos, we could then walk to Fordham Road and window shop. My favorite place is Hot Point–a very essential destination for Bronx baddies. Accessories and cute new outfits in hand, we’d go back home to change, maybe taking the long way so we could pass by Edgar Allan Poe’s creepy little cottage on the concourse. I’d keep dinner simple with leftovers, and then we’d go out to Salsa Con Fuego for some dancing.

The next day, we’d have to do brunch at Bronx Alehouse, and just hangout, clown, talk shit, etc. Afterward, we could pick up some coffee from Mon Amour, just down the street. I love walking from that area a little further down to the Target, where we could just walk around, look at all the amazing items, get cute matching PJs, some boardgames, and a candle for the sleepover. The second night, I would love to take it easy, painting our nails, watching movies, smoking, and ordering dinner from Estrellita Poblana. Luckily, we won’t need dessert because we picked some up from Little Italy yesterday.

The third day, we’d go to Maison Harlem for a charming French brunch. We could walk over to Riverside Park, and smoke a joint while taking in the beauty of the Hudson River. We’d hop on the train, and make a stop at PlantShed for coffee before walking around the Upper West Side, dodging rude rich people while we make our way to Central Park. We’d walk from the west side to the east side of the Park, where I’d make several references to Gossip Girl. We could then go do Karaoke at Duet 48, and then go for fried chicken and beer in Koreatown at BBQ Olive. Dessert and after dinner drinks would be at a rooftop bar where we can see the incredible night view of the city. Thus my perfect 72 hour plan is complete.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my life partner, Callum. We met in our second to last year of college at Hunter in a class called Black Aesthetics. I took it as a requirement for my Africana Studies minor, and they took it for their English degree. We became friends quickly after our class ended, and they’re one of the first people I felt comfortable asking, “can I draw you?” to which I got a very enthusiastic yes. They supported my art career from the very beginning, buying my old poorly edited watercolor illustrations on random Redbubble products back in 2017-2018. When we started dating in 2019, they started helping me with my quickly expanding business. Sometimes they would go pick up my prints for me, or drop my orders off at a post office. We moved in together at the end of 2019. I had been homeless for 7 years by that time. It was my first time living away from family, my first time having my own bedroom, and my first time living with a partner. They encouraged me and gave me time to figure out how life works when you’re living independently from your biological family while working. During the pandemic, they helped me fulfill my orders that had seemingly quadrupled overnight. In 2021, they bought me an iPad for Christmas so I could growing as a digital artist. To this day, they help me with photoshoots for my feed, orders, getting supplies, brainstorming ideas, and just overall encouraging me every moment of the day. I am super lucky to have this career oriented Capricorn sun partner in my life, helping me reach my potential.

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