A CONVERSATION WITH LEO FITZPATRICK
GATA Magazine had the pleasure to sit down with curator, DJ, skater, artist, and actor Leo Fitzpatrick in his New York gallery, “Public Access” to chill and talk about his career, life, and achievements in and out of the big screen.
With his first appearance in Larry Clark’s film Kids (1995), Leo Fitzpatrick became a cultural icon at only 17 years old. After the release of this revolutionary film that brought together incredible young talents like Harmony Korine, Chloe Sevigny, and Rosario Dawson, who would later come to represent the underground film scene of the 90s, Leo Fitzpatrick had parts in acclaimed films and TV Series such as Bully, The Wire, Maniac and Sons of Anarchy.
But besides his acting skills, Leo has developed over the last few years his passion for art and the community.
After publishing books like Fuck Friends in collaboration with Dash Snow, Rita Ackerman, Adam McEwen, and Dan Colen, and Just Born Dead, Leo has become more focused in his career as an art curator.
After making a name for himself in the art world and having a great impact on the program of Marlborough Contemporary in Chelsea, he founded several galleries on his own, finishing a cycle with Public Access Gallery in St. Marks, NY.
Opened during the middle of the coronavirus wave, Public Access breathes a sense of community. Leo has kept his skater roots to create a place for everybody, for any type of art, a space far from the tight art industry and closer to the streets.
PUBLIC ACCESS NY
“I just thought there was a need for space for kids to feel comfortable going to. The art world can be very exclusive and kind of egotistical and bullshit. Its all smoke ‘n mirrors. I constantly promoted to kids, ‘go to see art shows, like they are free, there are literally hundreds every month, just go.’ Even If you don’t like it, It is still better than sitting at home staring at your phone.
The natural progression of that is to open a gallery that its accessible to kids. And art speaks to kids. When I see like certain kids coming back to see every show, that’s the pay off.
I want all the misfits that don’t feel comfortable in other situations. I want it to feel like a skate shop”
YOUNG ARTISTS STRUGGLES
“Don’t worry about comparing yourself to what other people are doing or have done. You shouldn’t even think about that. If you do it, that’s when it starts to get fucked up. ”
ON CURATING
“Curate wherever you can, bars, pizzerias...wherever.
Think outside of galleries. The most important thing I would say to a curator is have fun, it’s not that fucking serious. It’s just art.
Curators just need to be true to themselves. If you are able to do that then you probably would find more success than duplicating somebody else. Put one step in front of the next and just keep moving. ”
SCHOOL & COMMUNITY
“I’m definitely a high school drop out. The idea that I’ve never went to an art school, it’s kind of nice because I was never told how to do things in a certain way.
I think college, it’s very good to learn technical education, but what you should be doing is creating a scene, a community to bounce and share ideas. To experiment together. You can learn as much that way.”
KIDS, 1995
“That was a really interesting part of my life, for sure. Because it sort of dictated the rest of it. Meeting Larry Clark was a huge influence in my life. But now, if it’s not a good experience, I’d rather not act.
If you are young and you want to be an actor, go for it. Don’t let me discourage you. But make something with your friends. Don’t worry about being in a big Hollywood movie. Keep it local, keep it fun, keep it interesting. ”
ON SUCCESS
“Probably, the most important thing to be successful at is at being a father. That’s where you gauge your success. You can be a great actor and a terrible father, and that’s not good. But being a great father and a terrible actor, I think that’s ok. I don’t think about anything I’ve done in the past as far as like achievements, it’s like constantly looking forward.”
JUST FUCKING DO IT
“As fucked up of a time that we live in. I think things have the potential to get really exciting. And I’m looking forward to that. I always say the kids will figure it out and hopefully they take this time and the opportunities to start a whole new movement. You know...to fucking, experiment and have fun, and be creative, start bands, start art galleries, and be the next generation of people that do things their way.
There is something exciting in the air again because nobody knows what the future holds and you can kind of use this time to help re-write the future if you want to. ”