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Gerald Bell
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Gerald Bell
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Gerald Bell
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Gerald Bell
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Gerald Bell
Artist Gerald Bell knows one thing for sure: He knows nothing. At least, it is this very thought that inspires him to explore the world around him through his art. The prolific artist started painting as early as he can remember but didn’t begin selling work until 2006. Fast-forward to today, and his work has now been exhibited in several prominent galleries, including the inaugural show at Daisha Board Gallery.
The self-taught visual artist studied music at Texas Wesleyan, and it’s easy to see how the frenetic energy of jazz relates to his work. Although he self-deprecatingly contends “people are tired of me,” he continuously creates diverse series, including a show of “isms” for Dang Good Candy and his Educated Negro series which he calls his “neo-expressionist work that deals with critical race issues.”
When expanding on his influences, he says, “I’ll see a certain color I want to work with or I’ll see a commercial that I want to play upon or a product that I want to play upon or something that I’m going through or struggling with, and I’ll address it, in some sneaky way. Generally, more than anything, [my art is] just a way for me to communicate what I have going on in my mind.”
Gerald Bell
Yet, Bell still considers the relationship with his audience a priority, and he uses this connection as a barometer to see if he’s creating from an authentic place. “My favorite pieces are the ones that resonate with people,” Bell says. “That people don’t forget. That people can connect with and start conversations. I can create any old thing, but if I don’t really paint what I’m feeling inside, then I’m doing myself an injustice.” One of his particularly emotional series is a set of 100 diary pages he created beginning in 2020 when his dog Charlie passed away. “It’s really something how people can connect with loss,” Bell says. “People don’t really like to talk about it, and I never dealt with loss except for losing a girlfriend (through a breakup) or something like that. But this type of loss is a much deeper, much more profound loss. And to be able to heal from that [by getting it on paper] was, for me, one of the most profound things I’ve ever done.”
Sometimes, Gerald’s work garners the opposite reaction when people don’t like what he is trying to say — something he’s taken in stride. “I’ve lost a lot of friends, but they’re really not friends to begin with, and that’s what I learned. It takes a courageous soul to stay true to yourself.”
Haters aside, Gerald understands that has nothing to do with himself or his art and is grateful for the people who have stayed around through his artistic journey. Bell credits those who stuck with him though his artistic journey as the inspiration for his upcoming work. “As long as I stay true to myself, the people who remain, respect me for the right reasons. What I’m learning is that when somebody doesn’t accept me, when somebody has a problem with me, or somebody has a problem with what I say, it’s not me, it’s them. I see [my art] coming inward to show my appreciation for those who have always been there and who will always be there no matter what I do or what I say.”
Despite his body of work focusing inward, Bell’s upcoming projects are all about collaboration. In October 2022, Fort Worth Bike Share released the first of 13 bikes he painted, and they will continue to roll out through 2023. And he’s partnering with downtown clothing and record shop, Union Station, on a shoe design.
Despite the continuous opportunities, Gerald remains humble about his work. “I know nothing about art. Once you accept that fact, you can actually grow. People that think they know everything, the ones that are close-minded, they can’t really learn. But people that admit they really don’t know much. Those are also the ones that continue to grow, and they’re hungry.”
