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

Hi Leeroy, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
The inspiration behind my creative career was my mom, who was an interior designer and when I was young I use to love her designs. I then discovered how powerful art is as a tool to express and address social issues.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work speaks volume, made using glass beads, acrylic/oil paints and Ankara fabric on canvas. I also have advanced my art by making earrings and key rings with different custom designs, extending my appreciation for women by adorning them with the beautiful jewelry made using beads and laser cut wood. What sets my work apart from others is the style and medium that I use for detailing the art piece and the texture that mirrors back to you from the reflection of the beads. The beads change shades when you move in different angles and depict the originality of the African roots as beads are used mostly in our cultural events.

My most proud moment in this journey was having dinner with the former President of South Africa Jacob Zuma after submitting a beaded portrait I had made for him. The second most proud moment was when I made it to the final for a arts and craft competition called Innibos National Craft Awards 2020.

To get to where I am today took dedication, patience and perseverance. At first I started by just picking up offcuts of wood and any surfaces that I could use to start making art with beads until a time when I could now afford buying canvases and other materials. It was a collective effort where other fellow artists advised and encouraged me to try new ways to develop my art. The way I overcame was to just take risks of making influential people’s portraits without them knowing and just going to present it to them convincing them to buy and this taught me to drive myself high to achieve exponential growth.

I would love the world to be impacted by the messages in my artwork and get conversations going that will change lives and show people that there is more to life than the things we know.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The best places I would take a best friend will be adventurous places like the Kruger National Park where we can go and explore life, have fun and learn from nature and eat the natural foods. I love peaceful places where I can think and be creative.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a shoutout to Ilana, Sonja and my wife Mavis.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1va6lgt6elmn1&utm_content=iyg5gk

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeroy-tom-722819225

Twitter: @leeroy_tom

Facebook: @Leeroy DaKing Tom

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