Interviewing Scott Covert

Earlier today, I visited Scott Covert’s studio in Harlem. Covert has been involved in the art scene for a while now but has gained more prominence recently. I had such a lovely time meeting him and seeing his artwork. While I was there, I asked him a few questions about his life, artwork, and experiences. Here are his answers.

How would you briefly describe your artwork?

“Expensive” is what Covert jokingly said at first. “Very modern. It is that little corner where abstraction meets pop.” Covert is a printmaker, and he sets up printing shops in cemeteries and sneaks into them.

Where are you from?

“Edison, New Jersey”

How did you enter the art scene?

“I was always an artist.” Covert talked about how he was bullied for being gay in the 1960s, ran away from home and came to New York, where he started making art.

Where was your first show?

“Club 57 in New York”

Which artist are you most inspired by?

“Diana Ross”

Who is your favorite artist?

“Rene Ricard”

Why are you interested in cemeteries?

When he was younger, he wanted to be a mortician, which is someone who prepares dead bodies for burial. He mentioned how he thought that was odd.

What famous people have you met? He was friends with Jean-Michel Basquiat, and he knew Andy Warhol. He also knew Madonna.

How do people respond to your art? “A lot of people have a problem with dead people on their walls” he said while laughing.