Tilteed

Artist Interview: robbielee

Curator’s Statement:

When I think of Robbie Lee, I think of robots. Lots of robots. However, when an artist becomes well-known for a certain style of work, you start looking beyond the style that first gained them notoriety and you focus long and hard on the new ways they try to improve upon their own art. Which causes me to thank you all for picking up, quite arguably, one of our best fall-themed pieces this year: Faux-Liege. This toupee-topped tree makes me smile every time I see it. I’m just glad he didn’t go for the ‘80s model… Could you have seen it? Business in the front and party in the back? I think not!

I have loved this piece for so long and have supported it every place I’ve seen it up for voting. Tell us, what went through your mind when you created this gem?

I went through a toupee phase because I had recently re-read Frank Miller’s Elektra series and Bill Sienkiewicz draws one guy in it with a crazy, out of control hairpiece. I also did a shirt and painting with a robot with a toupee (and tank top).

This is possibly one of those rare occasions your print is NOT a robot. Would you care to elaborate for your fans as to why robots are so easy for you to create and integrate into your t-shirt designs?

Three reasons: 1. Robots have heads and arms and legs and faces, but they aren’t loaded with race, gender, age, etc. In that regard they make great symbols for people. They’re like happy faces or stick figures, except a lot more fun to draw! 2. I’m very interested in how technology is shaping our world and our self-perceptions, etc., and robots are great symbols for that kind of commentary- especially in juxtaposition to (or with?) almost anything else. 3. I love drawing the cool shading of metal robot skin.

I sense a general exasperation with my robot designs, so I’ve been trying to branch out a bit. But it’s hard- anytime I have an idea the first place my mind goes is “robots.”

Which of all your tees would you say has been your favorite, or that you’ve most looked forward to seeing print?

Probably my Technophilia design at DBH (they really nailed the printing and it’s such a wearable design) or S.L.O.T.H., which printed at teextile and RIPT. I wish I could find a permanent home and a really solid printer for that one, but maybe I’ll just print it myself.

A little randomness in a not-so-random interview: How many puns do you think you could come up with, using ‘faux’ or a hairpiece?

Probably three or faux. Nah, just one.

I’ve seen you dabble with collaborations here and there. Have there been a couple artists out there you’d like to work with on a future design?

I usually like to work alone unless there’s something about the design that justifies a team-up. But I think it would be fun to do something with someone with a distinctive style like Walmazan or BootsBoots. David Byrne would be fun to work with, too, I think.

So Robbie, I’ve gotta ask… Are you more into the hi-tech robots or the older, more steampunk style robots, and why?

I guess I don’t really draw those high-tech ones because they don’t really look like robots. Unless you’re talking about those Gundam ones, but then that’s someone else’s style. I suppose I just start drawing and the sort of steampunk ones are what come out. But it’s more of a casual steampunk- a “steamposeur” I s’pose. As far as owning one, though, I’ll take a more modern one, hands down.

Do you have any links you’d like Tilteers to check out?

Just my site: http://robbielee-illustrator.com/
Oh, and my design up for voting at DBH: http://www.designbyhumans.com/vote/detail/76359
My newest Threadless: http://www.threadless.com/submission/299477/C_O_L_O_S_S_U_S
Also my aunt just set up her own Etsy shop and I’d be thrilled if any of you checked it out: http://bellarosaandme.etsy.com/
No robots there, though- more of a country crafty kind of thing. Also, feel free to email me if you’d like to sign up for future print notifications.

Finally, would you mind relaying some inspiration for your fans before you head out the door?

I’m reading Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography and it’s been pretty inspiring and helped crystallize a few major changes in my life. So read that. Also, measure success by whether or not you gave your best effort. That’s something that took me a while to buy into, but it’s really the way to go.