Greg Ballenger
Enter the Hazy World of Artist Greg Ballenger, which explores this Navajo artist’s perspective on indigenous resilience, creativity and ancestral knowledge which he believes is vital to reviving the health and balance of the eco-system and our planet.
Lili welcomes artist Greg Ballenger for an intimate conversation recorded in her own living room, just feet away from one of Greg’s own works. Greg discusses his evolution from a young creative in Gallup, New Mexico, to a sophisticated artist whose work navigates the tension between digital precision and physical materiality. He shares the unique challenges of balancing a day job in the corporate world with a dedicated art practice, revealing how he maintains strict boundaries—such as banning Zoom meetings from his studio—to protect the sacred energy of his creative space.
The dialogue delves into Greg’s fascination with the concept of "the grid" and how he uses it to explore themes of control, structure, and the organic glitches of the human experience. He reflects on his time at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) and how his creative output acts as a canvas of his life, constantly shifting to reflect his current environment and values. The episode concludes with a beautiful meditation on the importance of creating a sanctuary for one's practice, ensuring that art remains a site of radical intention and a true reflection of the self.
