Edreys Wajed

Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Video, Digital Art

I am a multi-talented creative, a polymath of sorts in the arts, with proficiency as a visual artist, jeweler, poet/writer, and performer, along with some other interests. My background additionally reflects experience as an educator, an advocate for youth empowerment, and an entrepreneur.

My art has always held a clean and linear graphic quality, typically consisting of black-and-white line-based drawings. Long and continuous lines, streams of conscious and zen on paper and sparse, choppy tally marks paired in bunches. This style served as the base for both abstract, non-figurative as well as fully realized figurative and portrait drawings.

As I’ve transitioned through various artistic and creative means of expression, I have also evolved and expounded on my visual art exploration, where I have reclaimed my passion for music and performance and paired it seamlessly into my latest paintings, which still incorporate line as the main element. The quality of lines vary, as each type of marking denotes a specific musical instrument or sound and its movement, uniquely interpreting music onto canvas or paper. Drawing sound. I’ve developed a system and unique musical notation incorporating layers of colors, text, line and what can be read or looked at as an urban or street art version of chart or sheet music.

My creative process begins by selecting a song that I have a connection with emotionally or association with from memories throughout my life, past and current. The song is played on repeat for several minutes, sometimes hours if necessary, as this begins the study of the song, its parts, vocals and instruments. I isolate each component of the song, piece by piece, translating its sound, movement and rhythm through the use of the symbols and marks I’ve developed, creating a painting or drawing that radiates music to the eye, sparking the imagination of the viewer to imagine the unfamiliar or recall the song from memories and experiences of their own.

Each painting stands as a visual representation of the audio recording and song itself with emotion, bounce and vibration.

Edreys Wajed is a catalyst of inspiration and a walking enterprise of all things creative. The Buffalo native boasts a toolbox chock-full with talents and experiences ranging from a visual artist, jewelry designer and musical entertainer, to an educator and entrepreneur with notable recognitions respectfully in each. His approach in each endeavor is soundly unique, high quality and signature in presentation, having found his course as a creator early in life.

As early as 14 years of age, when his mother invested in a pair of hair clippers for him, seeing as she could no longer afford to pay for his haircuts, Edreys taught himself the trade of barbering and soon began making money for himself in the basement of his childhood home. With his artistic ability he also began growing a client base and reputation for customized hats and clothes as well as logo design by hand, long before learning graphics in college. His creativity, craftsmanship and passion to inspire people are what drives his spirit of entrepreneurship.

From having run his own stationery boutique and art gallery shared with his equally talented wife, Alexa; touring nationally and internationally as a hip hop artist, Edreys is exceptionally diverse with his avenues of expression, including the fine craft of jewelry making, passed down from his father and master craftsman. Edreys is recognized locally and nationally for his contribution as an artist on the Freedom Wall which features 28 civil rights dignitaries, seven of whom he painted with his unique style and use of line. Most recently Edreys painted the “Love Black” Mural in partnership with James "Yames" Moffitt with support from the AK Public Art initiative in close collaboration with Say Yes Buffalo and Clover Group, Inc.

Edreys Wajed is a partner of Eat Off Art. Eat Off Art is a multi-dimensional agency, platform and affirmation all-in-one, providing transformative experiences through creativity and art. Eat Off Art began as a mantra to counter the adage of the "starving artist.”

“Creativity is my neighbor, I live by it,” says Edreys.

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