(Photo: Spencer Heyfron)

What kind of painting do you do?
How do you explain anything visual? You have to see it. I use clothing as artwork, too. I get reactions from every kind of person you can think of—supermodels, designers, homeless people. I don’t really deal with money that often.

You must need a little money. How do you buy your clothes?
I do odd jobs, some babysitting, and I sell some paintings. I go to sample sales and get a lot of things for $5. These pants were $5.

What’s your dream job?
I’m trying to show my paintings in a gallery, but I don’t even know where to start.

Have you ever been married?
No. Some people want to marry, have children, but none of that was important to me. Being an artist sometimes is very isolating, and when you go into that you live and breathe it.

Interview by Emma Rosenblum

Related:

• Archive: “Look Book”
• Table of Contents: May 25, 2009 issue of New York | Subscribe!