Artist Lonnie Holley searches for source material in a creek full of trash and hangs out with Stacey Abrams

Welcome to Wet Paint in the Wild, the free – and free – spin-off! – from Artnet News Pro’s beloved Wet Paint gossip column, where we give art world insiders a disposable camera to chronicle their life on the circuit. To read the last Wet Paint column, Click here (members only).

Among the local Atlanta legends I continue to revere, there is a special place in my heart for Lonnie Holley. My first encounter with the artist was actually from him as a musician when he opened for the band Deerhunter in 2013. Since then, I’ve been delighted to find his evocative and often haunting sculptures of objects found in museums around the world. country. More recently, he opened UTA Artist Space’s new permanent location in Atlanta with a suite of paintings, and I handed him a camera to show me the week from his perspective…

The very first stages of a new painting. In my temporary studio. Atlanta.

The first brushstrokes of a new painting. Workshop, Atlanta.

At the Big Ears Festival, where I was the artist in residence. I worked with young artists to make a music video. We went to the edge of a creek to film, and I noticed how polluted the creek was, so I started removing materials. Knoxville, Tennessee.

I had two performances scheduled at Big Ears, one with Mourning [A] BLKstar and one with an all-star band. I had an exhibition of my art during the festival at the downtown gallery at the University of Tennessee, so I did a few pop-up shows during the festival, surrounded by my art. Knoxville, Tennessee.

A photo of the second gallery pop-up. With Kevin Morby, Lee Bains and Chris Stelling on guitars, Shahzad Ismaily on bass, Dave Eggar on cello, Cochemea on sax, Erin Rae on vocals and Jim White on drums. Knoxville, Tennessee.

Thumbs up for Mother Universe screen print I did for a fundraiser with my friend Scott Peek at Standard, Deluxe. Waverly, Alabama.

Paintings in my studio. Atlanta.

One of my work tables in the studio. Atlanta.

An old quilt I’m about to paint with newer paintings in the background. Atlanta.

My neck pouch that accompanies me everywhere. Everything I need is in there, especially if I’m at the airport. Cleveland, Ohio.

Somewhere between London and Cleveland I caught Covid. I had to miss a show in Cleveland and drive to Knoxville because I didn’t want to fly. I was stuck in a hotel in Knoxville for several days before Big Ears started. This is the view from my hotel. Knoxville, Tennessee.

At the opening of “The Eyes Were Always on Us” at UTA Artist Space Atlanta, standing in front of my work with Stacey Abrams. Atlanta.

At the opening of the exhibition at UTA Artist Space Atlanta talking about my art with Stacey Abrams. Atlanta.

In conversation with podcast host Josie Duffy Rice,

In conversation with Josie Duffy Rice, host of the podcast, “Unreformed: The Story of the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children,” at UTA Artist Space. Atlanta.

The entrance wall and guest book of the show at UTA Artist Space. Atlanta.

With Josie Duffy Rice at UTA Artist Space. Atlanta.

My friend Joe Minter built an incredible artistic environment in Alabama which he called

My friend Joe Minter built an amazing art environment in Alabama which he called “The African Village in America”. Here is his version of the Birmingham prison where Dr King wrote his letter. Birmingham, Alabama.