Meet Roy Hibbert | Artist

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

Hi Roy, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I chose to pursue an artistic career because I wanted to choose a hell I could live with. Life will undoubtedly continue to throw trials and tribulations my way, and I wanted to make sure that my career, the thing I would like to pursue for the rest of my life, wouldn’t be a major deterrent. As an adult, you’re expected to have a solid ‘goal,’ something that can congeal and lead you to a ‘proper’ career. I tried that path and detested it almost every step of the way. But art has always been a constant in my life; I’ve always thought about it, and thanks to the intervention of professors and several experiences I’ve had related to art during my time in undergrad, I’ve come to see the life of an artist as something I want to continue to pursue no matter what lies ahead.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is centered on the absence of people, the joys of solitude, and the ways light and color shape our experience of place. I think these ideas are what distinguish my work from that of many of my peers. I am most excited about my work when I find myself exploring new territory, when I haven’t yet figured out how to explain what I’m doing perfectly to others. That’s usually when I know I’m onto something worth investigating further, and it’s often where my most interesting ideas emerge. Amy Sherald once said, “Don’t give heed to criticism or praise; just do you.” I try to embody that philosophy in my practice. When I allow outside opinions to influence me too much while I’m working, it can dilute what I originally set out to achieve. Because of that, I try not to focus on criticism or praise in the midst of the creative process. Ultimately, the moments when I feel most proud are when I see a finished work on the gallery wall and know that I gave everything I wanted to give to it. Whether the work is met with criticism or praise becomes secondary; what matters most is that I remained true to my vision.

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?
If a friend were visiting the area, I would take them to the current Amy Sherald exhibition, ‘American Sublime,’ at the High Museum of Art and spend a few hours there. Then we’d go to my favorite Hispanic restaurant in the city, Pollo Primo, for lunch, and then walk along the Beltline through the city. Then perhaps go to a Korean BBQ restaurant in Duluth for dinner. The World Cup is ongoing in the city as well, so if we had the means, attending a match would definitely be on the itinerary; it’s only once every four years, and the energy inside the stadium is quite electric. I’d think we would go for a night out to dance too, one of my favorite clubs in the whole city is Pisces it’s on Edgewood and it really feels like the essence of the word dance is embedded in the foundations of that place: everyone just dancing and losing themselves to the bass of the ongoing set without a care in the world is tantalizing to say the least. Then we’d definitely hit up the art stores across the city as well and see what they all had to offer kinda like window shopping at the mall but instead of deciding what clothes to get we’d decide whether a certain brand of cadmium red or cerulean was worth it, I always say ‘oh just one color’ then end up leaving with 5 tubes of oils I probably didn’t need but will certainly find a use for.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My freshman-year drawing professor, Julio Labra, introduced me to the joys and fulfillment of art. Without my aunt Natasha, my grandmother Lucy, and my mother, I would not have been able to pursue my studies or come this far. I would also like to give a shoutout to Tsubasa Yamaguchi, the creator of the series ‘Blue Period,’ which kick-started my life within the arts. In all honesty, I may not have even considered art school or a path in art if I hadn’t stumbled upon it at Barnes & Noble so many years ago.

Instagram: rahart.official

Image Credits
Photo and artwork © Roy Hibbert, 2026