Xavier V. Banks, an art and design graduate from the University of Central Missouri (2021), on a multidisciplinary journey to tell stories through visual art inspired by his curiosity and diverse interests.
He finds inspiration in the many different spaces surrounding him combined with artistic techniques–Xavier can create environments that serve as “gateways to new dimensions,” encouraging viewers to see the ordinary in many different ways.
He finds inspiration in the many different spaces surrounding him combined with artistic techniques–Xavier can create environments that serve as “gateways to new dimensions,” encouraging viewers to see the ordinary in many different ways.
I’ve been drawing and creating for as long as I can remember. Back in 3rd grade, I was already sketching with friends, attending a separate art-focused school, and drawing alongside my mom—which honestly felt more like a quiet competition that I’d usually lose, followed by a few tears. She’d say, “Practice makes perfect.” By the time I reached high school, I had dreams of becoming an architect (though that was really my dad speaking). That changed the day I asked my calculus teacher how much more math I’d have to take in college. His answer: “A lot.” That one moment flipped everything for me. I shifted course and decided to pursue graphic design instead.
Granted, on paper I’m a graphic designer. But over the years, I’ve explored countless artistic styles and methods of creating—painting, mixed media, illustration, sculpture, digital collage, videography, you name it. Narrowing all that down to just “graphic designer” feels incomplete. My work isn’t about fitting into one label...it’s about following curiosity wherever it leads.
Through my art, I hope to take you on a journey where the boundaries between reality and fantasy dissolve, and the in-between spaces spark your imagination. Whether it’s a surreal digital illustration, a painted texture, or a confusing video, I want each creation to feel like something familiar but slightly off-center—where you’re encouraged to pause, look closer, and feel something. Even if that feeling is confusion because trust me, I’m just as confused.