Meet Kemoy Callaghan | Illustrator,

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

Hi Kemoy, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I consider risks as simple stepping stones; when a chance taken works out in my favor its small reminder to trust my gut and skill to keep going and if a different chance doesn’t pan I take my time to reflect and adjust my pacing and expectations. In my earlier years I’d kept the ‘no risk, no reward’ mantra personally as it helped me to be clear on a great deal of my goals and aspirations.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I like to tell a good story or at least express a close enough and relatable narrative that others can identify with. I’ve been most pleased and excited about the characters that I’m able to bring to life, especially having worked in and around food service the majority of my career, I get to pick from a plethora of characters to capture and express more of.

Now while it has not always been easy, I felt it as much as I knew that this work would have to be a long term commitment and to take it all in stride. As much as I enjoy it, I’ve had to learn to rethink, reorganize myself and pivot when I’m not meeting my own standards and to give myself some grace in acknowledging where I am and how far I have come, and still remind myself there is more to come.

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?
Oh I’d love to take them along the Charlotte rail trail and hit up some of my favorite hot spots like Hawkers & Common market. The next 2 days or so we’ll be out to Seoul Food, The People’s market and Abari Game Bar!
I would also close out the weekend time at one the 2 spots I’ve enjoyed most here, Petra’s bar or Snug Harbor.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Actually yes, two distinct folks come up more than I ever remember to let them know because they really do deserve it. An old coworker, local cartoonist, storyteller and friend, Michael Muller he would often share, sometimes mysteriously specific and calm counseling on things art and life related that helped me find clarity in what I wanted to do and ways to approach my practice even when I didn’t want to. Madelyn Hernandez, a good friend, local muse, model and VAPA’s in-house faerie & fine artist. They encouraged and got me started in regularly attending figure drawing around Charlotte and engaging more with peers in the local art community.
I also can’t forget the team of QC Family Tree community organization for the opportunity of my first artist’s residency. Upon move-in day and the rest of my time there, I was met with more and more openness and guidance, not just from the staff but also my fellow cohorts La’Porscha Smith and Ali Steele. Actually yes, two distinct folks come up more than I ever remember to let them know because they really do deserve it. An old coworker, local cartoonist, storyteller and friend, Michael Muller he would often share, sometimes mysteriously specific and calm counseling on things art and life related that helped me find clarity in what I wanted to do and ways to approach my practice even when I didn’t want to.
Madelyn Hernandez, a good friend, local muse, model and VAPA’s in-house faerie & fine artist. They encouraged and got me started in regularly attending figure drawing around Charlotte and engaging more with peers in the local art community.
I also can’t forget the team of QC Family Tree community organization for the opportunity of my first artist’s residency. Upon move-in day and the rest of my time there, I was met with more and more openness and guidance, not just from the staff but also my fellow cohorts La’Porscha Smith and Ali Steele.

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Image Credits
Portrait shot by Michael Maxwell