Check Out Kevin Barranco’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Barranco. 

Hi Kevin, 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?
For as long as I can remember, I was extremely curious about the world around me. My mom has always told me that as a kid, I wanted to go explore things off the beaten path and collect things out in nature. As I’ve gotten older, the curiosity still remains and has even gotten stronger. 

In college, I decided to pursue an education in the culinary arts at the Culinary Institute of Michigan, where I quickly developed an appreciation for food and saw the creativity it required. After graduating, I worked at some of Detroit’s fine dining restaurants for a few years afterward. 

At the time, I was working developing film at a nearby store – which is initially what began my infatuation with photography. It wasn’t until my senior year of college that I saved enough money to buy myself a Canon Rebel camera and began shooting my close friends. Somewhere down the line, I realized how much passion I had for the medium and how much I truly wanted to speak about my vision. The last two years have been endlessly spent sharpening my skills and pursuing my heart as an artist. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would be lying to even say my journey has been easy. In fact, I have struggled since the start – with money, rejected opportunities, mental stability, failed relationships, and my own battles with my skillset. At times, I have thought about giving up, or like I wasn’t going to “make it” because I was probably not within the cream of the crop. 

To tell you the truth, I still struggle daily. Although I have grown inside to realize I’m special for what I can offer. The amount of genuine, talented, and passionate people I’ve come across and can call my friends, family, and colleagues makes it so much more worth it. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I consider myself a multimedia artist with a strong focus on creative photography and 3D collage. As of the last year or so, I’ve been taking my style to a more futuristic and abstract style. I also try to incorporate motifs relating to our minds and technology. 

Dark and moody concepts in general really speak to me since I enjoy the darker side of life, so I feel like that is mostly what I’m known for. I think I am also known for my bold and colorful approach to photographing. I always switch around depending on what is happening in my life and according to other creative people I come across. 

I’m most proud of the city that I grew up in: Detroit. This city has endured me in ways I’d never imagined. My style has always mimicked my surroundings. I always take the grunginess in the abandoned buildings, the colors, and especially the materials that are found here. If you take a close look at some of my past work, you can see that I use small items that I find laying everywhere that I go. 

The history and trauma we’ve experienced make us very passionate people. We aren’t afraid to be strong and vulnerable. We aren’t afraid to speak about depression, poverty, substance abuse, or violence because they’re all things we’ve had to witness. I think a lot of Detroit artists share this with each other. 

What makes you happy?
My happiness, in general, comes from the magic of creating. When I don’t create, I easily lose that sense of fulfillment. The funny thing is, that emotions are unreliable. Like I always say, one day you’re in and the next you’re out. This applies to the way I feel. 

Our minds are far too complex to reduce them to mere happiness. There are other emotions and states of mind that make us equally as rich. 

Pricing:

• Creative Photography – $175+
• 3D Collages $100+
• Fine Art Prints – $35-$300/framed print

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://kiwifilm.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xvkbarr/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xvkbarr/