Kyle Wallack shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Kyle, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Something outside of work that has been bringing me a lot of joy lately is fishing. I recently had surgery to repair my ACL and meniscus, which has made daily life a bit challenging. But during this recovery period, fishing has been a real source of peace and happiness for me.
I’ve been a fisherman my entire life, and whenever times get tough, I somehow always find myself with a rod in hand, chasing that next catch. Living in Florida, I’m extremely lucky to have access to some of the best fisheries in the world. To me, fishing is one of the oldest art forms, every lure has a purpose, and there’s a rhythm to it. You can almost feel when the conditions are right. The tide, the lure, the moment it all comes together like a melody.
One of the greatest joys of fishing is sharing those moments with people you care about. My dad came down to help me after surgery, and one morning we set out on a mission to catch a big redfish. We ended up landing the biggest one I’ve ever seen in Tampa Bay a 40 inches long and an absolute dream fish. The laughter and high-fives that followed were unforgettable.
I also love fishing with my friends pulling in grouper, pompano, sea trout, snook, and redfish from a simple dock, then enjoying a meal together afterward. Even my girlfriend gets competitive, claiming she’s the better fisherman and sometimes proving it! It’s become this fun little rivalry that makes the experience even better.
There’s something incredibly special about the ocean, the calm, the challenge, the connection. Fishing always brings me back to center.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kyle Wallack, and I’m professionally known as KW. I’m a studio artist who began my journey in the East Village of New York City. My path into painting started in an unexpected way—after being diagnosed with cancer of the parotid gland on the left side of my face, which required a 12-hour surgery to remove.
After surgery, I could no longer work in graphic design—my first form of art—because staring at a computer caused severe migraines, dizziness, and nausea. A few days later, while walking into my apartment, I found an easel in the garbage. That moment marked the beginning of my journey as a painter.
In those early days, I painted robots with wires coming out of their heads and hearts—two places where I felt the most pain at the time. Looking back, those robots were self-portraits of what I was going through internally. I haven’t put a paintbrush down since.
Over the years, my work has evolved across multiple styles, each representing a different side of me. One of my main bodies of work is something I call “Refined Graffiti,” a blend between the graffiti world and fine art. The goal is to bring the raw beauty and emotion of graffiti into gallery spaces.
Recently, I’ve been focused on oil paintings, where I explore real life and emotion—putting what I experience directly onto the canvas. This was a style I was once hesitant to try, but once I did, I was completely hooked.
Something I’ve also recently discovered—thanks to a dream I had—is a new style where I attempt to break down the human face into its most basic forms. These faces emerge through abstract shapes and colors, each one unique, yet each carrying its own personality. It’s become a fascinating exploration of identity and emotion through simplicity.
I’ve also been creating screen prints, which allow me to build large series that combine everything I’ve learned over the past decade—from graphic design to painting to printmaking. It’s a process that feels truly full-circle.
Ultimately, my goal as an artist is to create a world that inspires and delivers a message of hope. We all face challenges in life, and if my story or my art can inspire even one person to pursue something they love—or something they were once afraid to do—then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that really shaped how I see the world didn’t happen in a single day or month—it unfolded over the course of a year. While I was sick and recovering from cancer in my apartment on 7th Street in New York, I would often look out my window at a single tree.
At first, the tree was full of life—covered in leaves and flowers, it was beautiful. But as the months passed and fall and winter came, I watched that same tree lose everything. The leaves fell, the flowers disappeared, and it stood bare—almost lifeless. Then, when spring arrived, I watched it come back to life. The leaves returned, the flowers bloomed, and birds began landing on its branches again.
That tree became a metaphor for what I was experiencing as a human being. It taught me that no matter how broken, vulnerable, or stripped down we may feel, there’s always the potential to grow again. Like that tree, we go through seasons—times of loss and stillness, and times of rebirth and renewal.
This experience gave me clarity about the cycles we all go through in life. We are constantly evolving, shedding, and regrowing. It reminded me that it’s never truly over—there is always new life, new strength, and new beauty waiting on the other side of what might feel like the end.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be simple and maybe it is less of a kind thing and more of a piece of advice. I’d say: listen to more Bob Marley and know that everything will be okay. You’re smart, you’ll figure it out, and there’s no need to stress simply just trust yourself.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Someone I really admire is Bob Marley. I think he was truly onto something—filling the world and the atmosphere with love and positivity. There’s something powerful about genuinely loving everything and everyone around you, something I think the world has started to lose sight of.
We’re all here together on this spinning rock—human, connected, and part of the same story. There’s no need for the hate and negativity that surround us. Bob was a vessel of love, unity, and peace, and that energy is something I believe the world needs now more than ever.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace in my studio, surrounded by silence. Most people imagine painters working with music playing, a beer or a glass of red wine nearby—but I’m the opposite. I like to be completely alone in the quiet, painting sober.
That silence gives me space to work through my thoughts and internal battles, to ask myself questions and find answers. Painting isn’t just a creative process for me—it’s a way to get to know myself better. It’s time spent sorting through my mind and creating a sense of solace within my soul.
Those quiet sessions in the studio are when I feel most centered. They help me navigate everyday life and, ultimately, help me become a better person.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thekwgallery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kw.refinedgraffiti/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-wallack-252a28109
Image Credits
Photos by Makaila Sisneros
