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Claim to fame: “The Airbrush King,” in-demand creator of R.I.P. and In Loving Memory shirts. While in high school, created a custom shirt for Kanye West for his Dropout tour of American inner-city high schools.
When did you realize you were an artist? When I was 15, I drew a portrait of Michael Jordan. When it was completed, I was astonished at how realistic the piece looked. From then on, I realized God had given me a skill that I must use.
Please briefly explain the purpose of an R.I.P or In Loving Memory shirt. R.I.P shirts are physical memorials made to remember someone who was killed or died that was involved with street culture. In street culture, if you give the most — which is your life — your friends and family pay homage to that dedication with a shirt. In Loving Memory shirts are made to remember a family member who dies in nonstreet-related circumstances.
If you were mayor of this city, what is one thing you would change? I would improve the road conditions. My studio is on 38th Street, and I dread driving down that road every day.
How long have you been working with the airbrush? Since I was 16. I was awarded grant money to attend the Indianapolis Art Center, where I took an airbrush class. Within two years of that, I had started my own business and been commissioned by Kanye West.
What did Kanye’s shirt look like? It was a giant portrait of Kayne that took up the whole front of the shirt.
Who’s your favorite visual artist? My teachers compared my style to Norman Rockwell, so I’d have to say him.
Has your work been shown at any local galleries or stores? Galleries, no, but I’ve been creating backdrops for a local photo-booth company, and I have a two-wall mural at Step It Up Shoe Store at Lafayette Road and 38th Street.
What piece that you’ve created has meant the most to you? I made a shirt titled, “You Choose,” that deals with my personal balance between heaven and hell. The balance between good and evil is a very important theme to me.
What do you do for fun when you’re not painting? Play basketball.
If you were to go to jail for life tomorrow, what’s the last meal you would eat in this town? I would probably eat a Domino’s pizza.
Indianapolis: Love it or Leave it? Love it.
The Airbrush King
Studio: 569 E. 38th St., Indianapolis
Contact: marvinpannell@yahoo.com
