In this interview series, we introduce you to the people who inspire us most: creatives, educators, activists, community leaders and the everyday super-humans who keep us on our toes. We’ll take you inside their day-to-day lives, homes and workspaces. We’ll talk motivation and inspiration and of course, all things style.
Meet our May Monthly Muse(s): The Walkers, Adrian and Morgan—multi-hyphenate artists-brand wizards-entrepreneurs-engaged citizens-generous beings and parents of Emory, 3. You may have seen Adrian’s photograph 'Black Virgin Mary,' which recently inspired devotion at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, or you may have lingered over a Levi’s® Made & Crafted® shoot on our Instagram, which the couple directed and photographed. And maybe, after seeing this inspiring work (there’s so much more) and learning that they have a spirited toddler, asked yourself: How, how, HOW do they do it? In honor of Mother’s Day—with Father’s Day hot on its heels—we chatted with the Walkers about culture, family and community (and cauliflower crust pizza) and how they balance the art of life with a life in art. Read on to learn more about Morgan and Adrian in their own words.
If anything, the pandemic taught us both how to stay still a little bit.
– Adrian
You’re both from St. Louis, Missouri. How did you two meet?
How did you end up in Chicago?
Morgan: In 2014, Adrian got a job in Colorado Springs, so I moved there. I stayed there for about five or six months, then I moved to New Orleans for a year. He finished out his time at Colorado Springs, we got engaged and moved together to the Bay Area. Then he got transferred to Chicago and we moved in late 2019. It’s nice to be back in the Midwest and to be closer to family, with a little one.
You're both multi-hyphenate artists. Now, with a child, you've added one more hyphen. What's it like being parents in a creative environment?
Adrian: Well, it's definitely fun because Emory's immersed in what we do and surrounded by art. She doesn't understand it, but the fact that she sees it is really cool. I would honestly say it's a learning process. We’re both still learning how to balance things, but we were just able to put her back in daycare after a whole year out of daycare due to the pandemic. If anything, the pandemic taught us both how to stay still a little bit.
Morgan: It's all we know. We’re just going with the flow at this point. Like Adrian said, it’s really cool for her to know that her father is a photographer. She has her own camera and she enjoys taking pictures. She really loves it when she's a part of shoots as well. She's usually the star.
I feel like we've benefited from the time together. Establishing more of a connection.
– Morgan
Which one of you does she most take after?
GOOD FOR HER!
Adrian: She likes clothes. When she saw us trying on our clothes for this shoot, she wanted to try hers on too. She put on her jacket and was opening and closing it, like: “Look at me!”
Morgan: She's used to being a part of the show. If there's anything going on with Adrian, there's always pictures of Emory with crowds around her. Because we were in Oakland and we didn't have babysitters or family there, she was really at everything with us.
IT’S A GREAT WAY FOR A KID TO GROW UP. AND LOCKDOWN HAS ALLOWED US EVEN MORE FAMILY TIME. SOMETIMES TOO MUCH?
Morgan: We are lucky to have a separate office space in our attic. Adrian spends more time up there and me and Emory spend the day on the lower level. Before, we were in a 450 square foot apartment with three of us. When we think about that and how crazy that would have been, we're really grateful to have moved to Chicago and to have things like a backyard for her and separate spaces where we can do our own thing, especially when I'm in class and things like that. But yeah, I feel like we've benefited from the time together. Establishing more of a connection.
Adrian: I lost my job back in April due to the pandemic. But from there, photography work just picked up. And Morgan—I don't really want to speak on you—but I feel like she is always learning. Putting herself in a position of learning new skills. I learn a lot from her—she’s tapped into almost every medium.
WHAT'S IT LIKE WORKING ON CAMPAIGNS TOGETHER—MOST RECENTLY, DOING A LEVI'S® MADE & CRAFTED® SHOOT WITH YOUR FRIENDS IMANI AMOS AND DESMOND OWUSU AS MODELS?
ADRIAN, YOUR INCREDIBLE PHOTOGRAPH, 'BLACK VIRGIN MARY,' PART OF YOUR 'WE MATTER' SERIES, SHOWED AT THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY. WHAT WAS YOUR STANDOUT EXPERIENCE OF THIS?
IT'S POWERFUL. ON TOP OF THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE BLACK MALE, THERE’S THIS FEMINIZATION THAT FORCES THE VIEWER TO REORGANIZE THEIR THOUGHTS AROUND MALENESS.
Yeah. I've played around with that type of work before with another series, and as far as gender goes, also thinking of different artists like Kehinde Wiley, placing Black people in white spaces, depicting them as living that experience versus the white folk.
It's been interesting because I'm learning that there's an absence of Blackness.
– Morgan
SPEAKING OF OUR OTHER ARTISTS, WHO ARE BOTH OF YOUR BIGGEST ARTISTIC INFLUENCES OR INSPIRATIONS?
ADRIAN, YOU'VE MENTIONED ARTHUR JAFA AND GORDON PARKS. ANY OTHER INFLUENCES?
MORGAN, YOU’VE WORKED WITH THE ART COLLECTIVE 'HER PLACE IS IN?'
THAT’S GREAT.
It was really cute. And I think it was heartwarming for the people who were there because that's part of the reason they were using us as models—showcasing different textures of hair. I was in an awkward phase with my hair and didn't necessarily feel all that great about it, but that little moment made it really special.
I’m positioned to do cool things, but at the same time I'm aware it’s valuable to put somebody else in a position of power to do so.
– Adrian
ADRIAN, YOU RECENTLY PHOTOGRAPHED PORCHE BENNETT-BAY FOR 'TIME MAGAZINE.'
YOU WERE WILLING TO GIVE THAT ASSIGNMENT UP?
I've always enjoyed dressing a little bit outside of the norm. I hate to use the word masculine because what is that?
– Morgan
OKAY, LET’S TALK PERSONAL STYLE.
Morgan: I've always enjoyed dressing a little bit outside of the norm. I hate to use the word masculine because what is that? I like men's pants. I like what I like, and there's not a lot of boundaries. If I do choose to wear something more feminine, I pair it with something masculine. It's always been hard for me to choose what my favorite color is because I just love color.
Adrian: For me, I've grown to be really comfortable with the things that I have. I just go to the same things—relaxed and cozy, with some type of pop somewhere, probably some jewelry that pops, with a hat or something. But when it comes down to it, I want to be able to move around in what I wear. Most of the time I'm photographing or something and I want to be relaxed, so my clothes tend to be a little bigger. I like my jeans to be loose and comfortable.
ANY PLANS FOR MOTHER'S DAY AND FATHER'S DAY?
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE FOODS?
SO: DEEP DISH OR REGULAR?
Morgan: I like both, but deep dish is a little heavy and we're not big cheese eaters. We don't eat a lot of dairy, but we also know that vegan cheese and deep dish—no, you just don’t do that. But sometimes we make our own pizza. We buy little cauliflower pizza crusts and make our own.
Adrian: Yeah, those are good.
