Meet Keenen Baker: Costume designer, Film maker and Audio Visual Tech

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

Hi Keenen, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
I want my legacy to reflect my love for the imagination. I feel most adults have allowed the restrictions of society to stifle their “inner child” causing it to cease to exist. I feel most of our creativity and imagination started to bloom and develop while we were kids. Those of us who didn’t allow this to die, continue to nurture it and go on to create in the form of artists, painters,  musicians, cosplayers, etc. We’re able to take some of the most elaborate designs, art pieces, concepts, etc. and change the world. Some of us are even fortunate enough to forge a career from it, such as myself. I want people to remember me for being a visionary, a loving person and a contributor to all things creative. I want people to remember my fight for the arts to be taken seriously as a profession. I want them to remember me for uplifting people who might’ve been afraid or insecure in delivering their artistic voice to the world.  

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I currently manage the “Aquarius taught me Cosplay” brand and have also been involved in different film productions over the years. In 2020, I obtained a position as an audio visual technician and am currently in negotiations on a big production in their costuming department. I’m very excited to bring my many talents to this production as it’s for one of my favorite comic book companies. My strengths are my attention to detail and design talent and they separate me, I feel, from most costume designers. I have an ” artistic eye” for this type of thing and have done my best to develop it over the years. I’ve gotten where I currently am, professionally, through passion, family and perseverance. It hasn’t been an easy path, but it’s been a slowly rewarding one. Without my friends and family, I’m not sure if I would’ve made it this far, but I’m blessed to have them all. Making Connections and promoting my talents to the world is how I’ve gotten this far; though I feel I still have so much more to go. I’ve learned patience like never before, in the past couple of years and I’m still in the process of developing it to near perfection. My father told me that when I was born, my grandfather held me up and said, “one day, the world will hear this boy speak.” By age 24, I had no idea what he meant by this, but in the past 5 years the realization is becoming apparent to what he meant. Whether through my voice in film or costume design, I pray I live long enough for this to continue to be a reality for years to come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d definitely have to take them to the Atlantic Station area. I love the design of a lot of the Atlanta area, but something about Atlantic Station, Krog St. and Little 5 Points just impact differently. When I was in college, my friends and I used to skip class sometimes just to hang around these parts, so there’s a lot of memories to be held. I’d also have to take them to The Vortex, one of my favorite burger spots. The Georgia Aquarium is another must and if you are in the area during con season, Dragoncon or Momocon are also mandatory.  

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There’s so many things that contribute to my mindset and ideology. It’s extremely hard to choose just one but of those things, my father’s guiding light to my creativity. When I was in need of guidance for a creative school project, he was my go-to. My love of all things gaming, comics, technology, etc. started with this wonderful man.

Instagram: Instagram.com/aquariustaughtme
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keenen-baker-78599553
Twitter: @Himandhishair
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keenen.baker.1
Youtube: Youtube.com/aliensversusrobots
Other: https://vimeo.com/334847417 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_1k0udisWo

Image Credits
@RebirthPhotography @Mkparksphotography