Twenty-three-year-old Cade Kegerreis is making his name as one of Texas’s youngest full-time artists. A resident of Waco, he graduated with a degree in studio art in 2017. After graduation, he dived headfirst into the art industry and took on a wide range of creative jobs, sharpening his skills, and becoming proficient in the business of art. Now, the young artist is proving what he can do by himself with his own clothing line, DVLVD.
DVLVD aims to spread awareness and bring understanding to others through knowledge and personal investigation. As an artist, Cade knows how powerful art is in sending a message. Rather than chasing sales, the brand is focused on raising awareness of societal issues. DVLVD hopes to unite its supporters through wearable art that can spark conversation. Cade’s art series and his first line of DVLVD apparel are his first steps in creating a much larger brand.
The launch of his DVLVD apparel runs alongside his debut solo art exhibition, Devolved: Unity through Evolution, Diversity, and Connection, which is currently wrapping up at downtown Waco gallery Cultivate712 (on view until Sept. 26). Cade is currently seeking future places to show the series.
Through his art, Cade believes that he has the unique opportunity to appeal to a very diverse audience, which is ultimately favorable in his endeavor to spread a message and affect change in society. “I believe anyone and everyone can benefit from seeing my art and diving deeper into themselves,” he said.
One thing that sets the DVLVD founder apart from other artists is his youth. At twenty-three, Cade is younger than the average full-time artist and has already created his first solo gallery showing. Many younger aspirants often fail to grasp what it truly means to be an artist, focusing only on the most glamorous aspects of artistry. However, Cade has quickly learned that artists must double as entrepreneurs, not only selling a product but also selling a product linked almost completely to one’s name and identity as well.
As he set out to establish DVLVD, Cade quickly learned that everything is about connections. “Without gallery representation or an agent partnership, I could only be as big as I build myself up to be. There is a loss of desire to explore and find the truth in our world today. I’m motivated to bring easier understanding and knowledge through art. One must seek truth themselves before they truly accept it,” he explained.
Right now, the young artist’s goal is to consistently work on his own series while developing future projects. He is working on painting murals with his own personal direction and style, as well as continuing to grow the DVLVD brand. For Cade, the role of an artist through time has always been the same—to use one’s abilities to internalize the external world and produce work that speaks to that in some way.
Through his art and apparel line, he aims to foster unity and show the world that humans are more alike than different. His experiences have led him to realize that many people are not raised with the benefit of interacting and loving people of all kinds. Through art, people can see things for themselves. “Once they see, they can question, interpret, research, investigate, and understand. I hope to bridge people out of ignorance to knowledge and acceptance through my work and brand,” he said.
Learn more about Cade Kegerreis and DVLVD on his website and Instagram.
