Today we’d like to introduce you to Philo Northrup.
Hi Philo, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I make sculptures and ArtCars from objects that others throw away. The sculptures take a month or so to make; the ArtCars take over a year to create (ArtCars are street-legal cars that have been permanently modified into an artwork).
As a child I would steal away to the basement to escape the sound and fury of my bickering parents. Using the junk downstairs (my folks grew up in the depression and threw nothing away) I’d create assemblages – crime scene dioramas, theater sets, strange new creatures, and trophies for dubious achievements. The sculpture I make now are the descendants of these early trauma souvenirs.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I consider myself very fortunate. I’m sure the world would have been kinder if I were an athlete instead of an artist, but dealing with bullies and small minds is something one has to learn sooner or later.
I grew up in Philadelphia and have lived in Tennessee, Oregon, California, Nevada, France and now I’m in Kansas City. I believe that if most people lived 1000 miles from their origin for a while, we wouldn’t have the ignorant polarization surrounding us today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve had over 50 gallery & museum exhibitions but it’s the ArtCars that I’m known for I’ve made seven ArtCars since the 1980s and have driven them a million miles. Really. A couple hundred people will see an exhibition of mine, but hundreds of thousands have seen my ArtCars.
And the response is electric – people go out of their way to show their appreciation – honking, waving, giving me the thumbs up. I’ve had busloads of students hang out the window as they drive by shouting their approval. Because I drive an ArtCar everywhere I go – trips, errands, commuting to work – I get this affirmation every day.
Unlike a museum show, my ArtCars are exhibited in the normal world. No one has to cross a threshold to see my work. I surprise you by appearing in your rear-view mirror. The response is 98% positive no matter what the context. I’ve driven these ArtCars from Mexico to Canada; commuted to work in them in South Central Los Angeles; driven them on the Playa at Burning Man from 1995-2019, and prowled every corner of the Mojave desert.
I’ve driven ArtCars over the Rockies a dozen times and now I’m on your street.
Humans need to create. This is why our ancestors climbed down into caves 50,000 years ago to paint, why we invented language, make music, perform and why people who normally never think about ‘art’ get excited by ArtCars.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
The best way to find kindred spirits is to put your work out there. Your tribe will find you, especially in Kansas City’s amazing creative ecosystem.
I enjoy my studio at Agnes Arts (around the corner from the Blue Room and Arthur Bryant’s BBQ) amidst dozens of other creatives working in wide variety of mediums. Kansas City is lucky to have a vibrant Art Gallery scene including Bunker Arts, InterUrban ArtHouse, Kansas City Artists Coalition, PLUG, Smalter Arts, and Vulpes Bastille just to name a few.
Of course, the Art Museums are world-class here (Nelson-Atkins, Nerman & Kemper). There’s even an annual ArtCar event, “Art Tougeau,” that’s been going since 1997 in nearby Lawrence, KS!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://philo-northrup.com
- Instagram: @philoman
