1. Who are you? 

I am Jean Paul Gomez, an artist based in Brooklyn, NY. 

2. What do you do? 

Photography, Installation

3. When/where/how did you get your start? 

1998 in Bogota, Colombia. A close friend of my family offered me to work at his photo lab, and since then I have not changed my mind about being a photographer…well, maybe once or twice!

4. How long have you been at it? 

8 years. 

5. What is the most important thing we should know about you? 

I try to make things happen, if not, I make things happen to me.

6. Is there anyone else in your field who you particularly admire?

Jeff Wall, Francis Alys, Doris Salcedo…

7. What other types of art are you into?

Sculpture, Painting

8. You got any unique hobbies or crazy talents?

I tend to watch a lot of movies every week, too many.

9. What’s your favourite vice? 

Midnight ice cream!! Hmmm…

10. You eat food? What kind? Like to cook? 

I used to eat a lot of garbage, but know I am eating food, I mean real food; raw veggies, good salads, natural dressings, no red meat, no chicken (ethical reasons). 

11. Truth or dare? Elaborate. 

Dare, I found more possibilities for creativity, good excuse to mess it up a little!

12. What is your most prized possession? 

My most prized possession is a 30 year old “Ruana”, a poncholike garment of heavy wool typically worn in the mountains of Colombia. It used to be my Grandfather’s.

13. How do you get over the creative hump/slump? 

I let it go for a day or two, and then I go back to it.

(Jean Paul Gomez is a photographer/cool guy living and working in Brooklyn, NY. He is currently pursuing his MFA at the Pratt Institute and he is the best downstairs neighbor contributor Erica Quinn could ask for.)