Emerging Artist Fellow 2022 Keto Green is a Detroit-born and raised artist and homeless man who continues to push through hardship, pain, heartbreak, and suffering, and is working to overcome many obstacles. According to Green, he is “living in a city full of drive and change; and overcoming poverty while trying to make a difference.”
“Against It All” is a series of paintings on found objects, painted in rich and bright colors, depict figurative and scenic images centered around painful memories from a tragic childhood that includes his brother who was lost to suicide following hardship. ”My youngest brother committed suicide at the age of 21 in August 2014, and it taught me to cherish life.” Green plans to use the opportunity to exhibit his artwork to spread mental illness awareness and uplift people.
I am driven to push love and peace into the world no matter my mishaps. I aim to stop violence, uplift mental health and self-love. Unity is key and it starts within. I aim to unite races and nationalities for the better cause of human love and the pursuit of happiness. I embrace people to be whatever their true heart desires. To not judge their self or others. I paint on my clothes and do anything else I can to let people know you are an inventor. You are the captain. You control your outcome with peace and love.” – Keto Green
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Keto Green is a contemporary artist from Detroit, Michigan, and 2022 Emerging Artist Fellow. He creates artwork from found objects, including painted doors that represent his personal struggle and relationship with hardships such as evictions and oppressive poverty conditions. His series of paintings feature various portraits and faces, created on various objects such as found doors, windows, plywood, canvases, and handcrafted furniture to highlight the differences in one another and bring to light the beauty he sees in life, despite ongoing challenges he faces. His unique perspective seeks to showcase different minds and perspectives to bring forth his shared reality, through the lens of love. The collection of work is created with his whole soul and heart and represents a time and place in each other’s lives that share emotions ranging from struggle and sadness to love and happiness. He attended Lawrence Tech University in Southfield, Michigan, and has participated in programs at the Detroit Institute of the Arts, Inside Out and has received recognition from Brad Pitt’s “Make it Right Foundation.”
