Life Through His Lens: Meet Marcus XL
From the start of modern civilization there was one group who were responsible for how their tribe, clan or country would be remembered throughout the ages. The artist is, and has always been the scribe whose thoughtful works translate to every language on earth, connecting us to a time or place, and in some rare instances, a mindset. MarcusXL is a scribe for his time in Chicago, and his thoughtful works draw response from all corners of the earth, and are worth every bit of discussion they provoke.
While he also proudly wears the hats of a videographer, graphic designer and painter, his skills allow him to move between mediums with ease. In the current landscape, the line between music and all forms of art have been blurred more than ever before, allowing for musical artists of many genres to request Marcus’s creative services. “I’ve been able to deal with a little bit of everybody, all types of musicians and artists in the city,” Marcus explains. “Whether it’s graphics or building a look for them, I just enjoy the challenge of finding a fit for everyone I work with.”
Marcus has rallied the support of artists around the city, to join forces and create one unified artist collective, creating relevant social dialogue through their visual art. More than a few Chicagoans have publicly lauded Marcus for his willingness to leverage his skills with a brush, lens or pencil into an initiative that breathes positive energy into youth, and those who need a strong message. One thing he has noticed during Chicago’s latest urban renaissance (pronounced: ‘gentrification’) has been the growing popularity of artists’ obsession with being misunderstood. Somewhere in the nonstop adventure that was childhood in the 90’s, he believes we somehow convinced ourselves that enigmatic is the new sexy, and that mass appeal comes from how little our audience understands us.
“That’s never made any sense to me,” Marcus replies coyly. “I’ve never tried to distance myself from anyone I’m creating work to connect with. I love when others love what I do. This will be a totally different city in a few years, these kids gotta prepare themselves, and it starts with opening their eyes to what’s going on.”
Perhaps it’s Marcus’ ability to ignore fleeting trends, perhaps it’s his genuine love for his crafts or perhaps its some combination of the two, but his approach to his work inspires attention to detail by everyone around him. Couple a strong work ethic with a magnetic personality, and it’s easy to see why his stock is rising so quickly. It’s quite possible we’re looking at the dawn of a new type of brand in Chicago, the hip-hop art star. With each passing day and masterfully constructed project, MarcusXL solidifies himself as both first-class artist and Chicago institution.
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