DOER OF THE MONTH

Robert Provilus

  1. who is Rob beyond the canvas? How would you describe yourself as a painter and creative, and how do the different ways you bring your art to life fit into your overalL Vision?

I see myself as an artist,

a fashion designer, and a teacher. I’m from Brooklyn, New York, with Haitian roots, and my foundation in art really started in high school where I built the core of my practice. I create work that resonates with me, often for my younger self, but also for people who see themselves in it. Centering Black stories is a big part of what I do.

Outside of my own work, I teach fashion design at Ujima High School in East New York. In my classroom, I encourage students to bring their heritage and identity into their creations, just like I do with my own Black and Haitian background. For example, one of our first projects was designing logos inspired by their country’s flag, reinterpreted in their own way. It led to some really powerful work that they felt proud of and represented by and that’s something I believe is essential.

2. What message or feeling are you hoping people take away from your art, and what experiences in your life pushed you toward telling those stories through your creativity?

I want Black people who engage with my work to

feel seen, connected, and represented.

When they look at it, I want them to feel like it was made specifically for them because it is. It’s personal to me, but it’s also for all of us.

Growing up, especially in high school and college, most of the art I was exposed to came from white artists. While I respected the technique, the subject matter didn’t always resonate with me. That’s why I’m intentional about creating work that speaks to my younger self and to viewers who share that experience. I want Black audiences to feel a real connection and see themselves in the work because I know what it’s like to admire something without feeling represented. My goal is to create art that’s just as skilled, but also deeply meaningful and relatable.

3. Coming fresh off the Black Stars exhibition, why is it important for you not only to show your own work, but to create tangible spaces where other artists can be seen and celebrated? And what did it feel like to pull off something that impactful?

Honestly, the main goal of the show was just to exhibit alongside my artist friends. I’ve built real relationships with a lot of talented artists all doing our own thing, but we rarely get the chance to actually show work together. This was an opportunity to bring that to life. Being able to exhibit with friends like Steez, Bari, Joy, and Gabrielle made it even more meaningful. It felt like a true collaboration how everyone came together, merging our communities, and creating something bigger than any one of us. It was easily

one of the most powerful and genuine collaborative experiences I’ve been a part of.

4. Was there ever a time when you questioned continuing as an artist? What kept you going, and what helped you reconnect with your purpose?

I definitely have moments where I question whether I’m on the right path.

Things don’t always go the way you plan,

and even with five year goals, you might not end up exactly where you imagined. You can be further than you were before, but still not where you thought you’d be and that can make you second guess your journey. I think that’s a normal part of being an artist. what really keeps me grounded is the support from the people around me, my friends and family who believe in my work. They remind me that I’m moving in the right direction and encourage me to keep sharing what I create. That reassurance helps quiet the doubt and pushes me to keep going. Even if things don’t look the way I originally planned, that doesn’t mean I’m off track. It might just mean the vision has evolved into something even more aligned with where I’m supposed to be.

5. Are there any other areas you’d like to explore, whether creatively, professionally, personally etc? If so, what? If not, how do you want to evolve in your current endeavors?

Teaching is still pretty new for me, and I really want to grow in that space and do more with it. One thing I’ve started doing is bringing guest speakers into the classroom, and I’d love to expand on that by inviting more creators from my network to connect with my students. I think it’s important for them to not only learn about art from books or media, but to also experience it through people who come from similar backgrounds and communities.

I also want to create opportunities for my students to engage with art outside the classroom

like taking them to local exhibitions so they can see what’s happening in their own community. Beyond that, I’ve been thinking about initiatives like organizing a photo day or a camera drive, where people can donate equipment or funds to help students access more. The goal is to bring resources into my school and eventually expand to others. These are all long term ideas I’m working toward to make an impact beyond just my own work on the canvas.

6. What is a dreamer and doer to you?

To me, a dreamer is someone who thinks about the future, imagines what’s possible and creates with that vision in mind. It’s about building something that reflects the kind of future you want to see, almost like painting a picture of what’s to come. That’s a big part of what I aim to do with my art, creating work that represents the future we’re striving toward.

A doer, on the other hand, is someone who takes that vision and brings it to life through action.

They move locally, impacting the people right around them, whether it’s friends, family, or their community. It’s about actively putting in the work to create a better future, not just for yourself, but for everyone connected to you.