Keith Spencer Spotlight
Keith Spencer
Written by Mark Moore, April, 2026
Keith’s privilege is to have a studio nearby his place of work. Living close allows him to be productive and have a nice work-life balance. He calls having the second studio close to the energy that the students emit, influential. He finds inspiration in coming into the classroom and seeing what all of his students are working on. He feeds off of their energy.
When teaching students new to art-making, Keith focuses on their art, their experiences, and their growth. For more advanced students the student-professor relationship evolves more into one of art colleagues.
“I recall how I was always that kid in school that was drawing in the back of the room. That was a way for me to keep to myself, not have a spotlight on me.” Keith talks about his upbringing on the border, and the Mexican American population that he grew up around. He was into skateboarding and graffiti. He remembers absorbing all of the big murals and public works there. These three things played a significant role in Keith's upbringing and slow immersion into the arts.
Taking art in college opened Keith up to more possibilities that gave him more confidence. His professors and colleagues were interested in the work that he was creating, and this made him less shy. “I guess the teaching started to parallel my art making. I knew going forward after undergrad that I was going to pursue education. I like being in front of students and people.”
Is art for everyone? “I don't think that (all) art necessarily is for everybody, and I think that it's not necessarily democratic in that way. There's different conversations in art. Not everybody likes abstract art, right? I feel that's okay. I don't want to push a student to do something that they aren't interested in. That's just a conversation that someone might not want to be into, and maybe they want to be in a different art making discussion. I feel that art can be thought about as being expansive. There's different types of art, there's different context of making art, just as there are many different people. I think the possibilities are potentially limitless.”
Keith believes in practicing what he preaches to students, “The work produces more work. Get out of your own way. Be in the studio. Keep making the work, keep producing. And eventually things will open up. I don't think it's beneficial to wait for that lightning bolt of inspiration to strike.” Keith looks at abandoned work, at his old paintings, sketches, or photo albums in order to help spark that inspiration.
For Keith, art is inherently open to interpretation. As much as you want to try to control meaning, you can't control it. It's going to do its own thing. “And I'm okay with that.” Keith wants his work to convey the sense that art and life mingle together. That art doesn't just begin for him on a canvas. That it's in every aspect of his life. That it’s in making birthday cards. It's in how he leaves voicemails on people's messages. It's in how he dresses. It's in how he documents his artwork. It's in how he installs artwork. “I want people to realize that art is a space that is not designated only for the art world. It has the potential to live outside of itself and impact everybody. I think the message of my work is that of creative exploration.”
Keith’s advice for artists trying to find their footing in the art world is that being in your own studio space, making work and keeping to yourself is fine, but it almost becomes self serving. He believes there might be a kind of moral obligation to share what is benefiting you with others. Keith thinks it's important to get the work out there in some capacity and to share your experience with people, as it might benefit others. It has the potential to do that. “You know people aren't going to come and knock on your door and just find you. People who have successful careers in the arts aren’t just making the work. They are meeting people and building connections and a community.” Keith’s golden rule is: “Don’t wait to be invited. Take initiative to share your art and start your community.”