Meet Cody Ann Walraven | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cody Ann Walraven and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cody Ann, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I think that the artistic career pursued me if I’m totally honest. I spent the first part of my life trying to find a career and a path where I could “make a living”, which meant I spent a great deal of time running away from my art and artistic passions. Art eventually caught up with me and I can’t imagine a life where I am not creating something everyday.

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 explores the tension between the physical body and the internal landscape of emotion and spirit. Within the mediums of painting and printmaking, I investigate how desire, pain, and transformation manifest in the different forms. I am most proud of how far I have come as an artist, and the way my work has evolved in the past few years. It has not been easy and it has taken a lot of hard work to get where I am today. Long-long hours in the studios, and even longer commutes to and from classes, I overcame these challenges with having such a supportive group behind me, and also blasting music everywhere I went. I want the world to know that if you want something, you have to give your all to pursue it. It’s not going to fall into your lap. And at the end of the day it’s all about who you know and the people you meet along the way.

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?
I don’t live in the city, but I come here often, so one of my favorite places to go is the Vortex in Little Five Points. It is a staple to me, and I have spent many afternoons there waiting out traffic before heading home. Emmy is the best up there I love her so dearly, and I truly love everyone in that spot. If I had an afternoon I would try and take someone to Ponce City Market, Monday Night Brewing, Junkman’s Daughter, and maybe a coffee at one of the Perc locations. I’m a creature of habit, but making friends along the way and finding new places to explore is one of my favorite past times, so who knows what kind of spot we will find by the end of the week.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The biggest shout out is to my momma and her constant support with my art. I also need to shoutout my husband, because I would not have been able to finish this round of school, or continue to pursue my art without him. I need to also shout out Tami Scheuer because if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here and I would have never picked up that pencil without her encouragement. My best friends that I call “My Wives”, they are always so supportive attend my gallery openings, my markets, and support me in any way they can on my social media; they’re always there when I need any kind of help. Shout out to my professors at Georgia State, especially Stephanie Kolpy for introducing me to printmaking and being such an inspiration to me; and Jessica Cartwright for showing me how to throw down on some pottery and for being such a beautiful soul on this planet and always pushing me in my artistic pursuits. Finally, shout out to everyone I love and adore in my hometown and surrounding communities because they are all so supportive and inspiring to me and my heart is so full just thinking of them. And as for inspirations: music is my biggest inspiration so thank you Lana Del Rey, Pitbull, Ethel Cain, Florence + the Machine, Ellie Goulding, In This Moment, Billie Ellish, Hozier, Paris Paloma, and many many more artists.

Website: https://www.codyannwalraven.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cawalraven/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAWalraven/