Meet Dylan Bannister | Visual Artist & Printmaker

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

Hi Dylan, why did you pursue a creative career?
Support. The support of countless loved ones, teachers, and mentors I’ve had throughout my existence have enabled me to dream into each and every aspect of my life through the lens of an artist. I consider myself so incredibly fortunate to have had this experience, as it is unfortunately all too common for creatives to face criticism from the people in their lives whose feedback means the most to them. It is a spectacular blessing to have had parents who have, from my earliest days, encouraged me to continue drawing, inventing stories, and utilizing my imagination as a superpower. And equally so for me to have had the stellar lineup of art teachers and instructors who have empowered my mind, hands, and eyes with processes, materials, and the artist’s vision. Finally, to have the loving support of my partner Alexis Howard, who is also an artist, and who pushes me daily to continue making new strives in my creative practice – it is truly a dream come true.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The work that I make is primarily based in the concepts of memory, nostalgia, and antiquated tech. A child of the early 90’s, I have always been an overtly nostalgic person, and I have niche interests in things that were once commonplace but are now outdated, such as public payphones, VHS tapes, CRT TV’s, and even floppy disks! My artistic practice is highly influenced by these interests, and the things I make often illicit strong responses from people who also have fond memories of popping a cassette into their VCR on movie night, or calling home from a payphone. However, one major challenge that comes with this territory is differentiating myself from the commercialization of nostalgia – such as filters for smartphone videos that mimic analog playback, retro arcade bars, and the use of Blockbuster’s branding for everything but an actual video store. I’m not against these types of things because they’re fun and even educational to the newer generations, but I am always working to ensure my work is elevated beyond simple nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There is something about the older brick storefronts and comforting atmosphere of a small town that draws me in, and this is why I fell in love with my current home of Rock Hill, SC. Whenever friends visit, I enjoy showing them the Rock Hill’s Old Town area, where the growing arts community is always doing something – whether it’s a town-wide gallery crawl or a rock concert in our courtroom-turned-performance-venue. I also make sure to take friends to see Winthrop University’s verdant campus, to show them where I spent my formative years as an undergraduate Fine Arts student! There are many outdoor spaces that I love to frequent here in Rock Hill, such as Glencarin Garden, Winthrop Lake, and the Catawba River – where I often bring friends to go tubing during the summer. Finally, for refreshments, I have to recommend Slow Play Brewing, who are supporters of local artists and servers of superb beers – and Cibi! Cibi! Food Truck parked conveniently outside, where one can enjoy the best food in town no matter what they order!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to ArtPop Street Gallery! ArtPop is an incredible arts-focused nonprofit based out of Charlotte, NC whose mission is to showcase local artists in public spaces, while simultaneously giving them the tools to sustain their creative practice! In 2021, I was one of twenty area artists juried into their Cities Program, meaning my artwork was displayed on a highway billboard and other public displays seen by thousands of people daily for an entire year, and enjoyed other benefits such as tabling events and courses on professional practices. At the beginning of October 2022, I joined ArtPop’s team as Project Manager of their newer Inspiration Projects division, which connects local artists to paid projects of all kinds (murals, installations, fabrication, etc.), while also creating a sustainable future for the organization itself. ArtPop is making a major impact on artists within Charlotte and surrounding counties, and on everyday people who may not have interacted with art otherwise.

Website: dylanbannister.com

Instagram: @dylanbannisterart

Image Credits
Alexis Howard