After graduating from the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, Paul Fuentes moved to New York where he pursued television. Through his work with broadcasting and promotion, he encountered many celebrities and became increasingly exposed to pop culture and art. Inspired by these experiences, Fuentes blends his knowledge of branding and love for painting to create colorful caricatures that invite viewers to consider the implications of fame. His paintings question our perception of fame by replacing our familiar ideas of the subject with something out of the ordinary. Through this deep exploration of identity and fame, Fuentes asks viewers to form a new narrative of the work. In this interview, Fuentes discusses his education and work experience and how he arrived at his interest in pursuing art, as well as the specific artists who have inspired and informed his style. He touches on memories of painting at a young age, his love for turpentine, diversion from the status quo, and “puncturing pomposity”.