# Maurice Scarlett III, Baltimore-Based Visual Artist, on Using Pain as Power and Re-Imagining Black Representation in Art

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-truth-in-this-art-stories-that-matter-1372723/maurice-scarlett-iii-baltimore-based-visual-artist-on-using-pain-as-power-and-re-imagining-black-representation-in-art
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-truth-in-this-art-stories-that-matter-1372723/maurice-scarlett-iii-baltimore-based-visual-artist-on-using-pain-as-power-and-re-imagining-black-representation-in-art.md
Podcast: [The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-truth-in-this-art-stories-that-matter-1372723)
Published: 2026-06-18T08:01:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/episodes/maurice-scarlett-iii-on-using-pain-as-power-and-re-imagining-black-representation-in-art
Audio file: https://op3.dev/e/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/prfx.byspotify.com/e/media.transistor.fm/2234ca40/c3285085.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3647

## Resource

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, I sit down with Maurice Scarlett III ! About Maurice Scarlett III: Maurice Scarlett III is a Baltimore-based visual artist and multi-disciplinary creative named after his father from West Baltimore. He is of Jamaican heritage and specializes in figurative art characterized by darker, alluring tones that capture the essence of Black figures. His journey began in 2010 with photography—documenting friends who were musicians, DJs, and clothing designers right after graduating high school. In 2017, fashion designer Kirby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss discovered him on Instagram and invited him to collaborate for New York Fashion Week, a pivotal moment that pushed him to take painting seriously. We talk about his evolution from photography to painting and how his work has become more grounded, immersive, and soulful—"more of his essence in it." Scarlett discusses his use of dark tones rooted in life experiences, grief, and learning to use pain as power. He explains his philosophy of embracing imperfections, quoting Miles Davis : "If you mess up on a key, keep that because that can make the song better." Scarlett describes his approach to portraying Black people in a "re-imagined way"—highlighting them beyond repetitive narratives of politics, slavery, and trauma. He shares how Baltimore shows up in his work subconsciously, with subtle cues that come naturally from growing up in the city. He introduces the word he associates with Baltimore art: grit—the do-it-yourself mentality of creatives who carved their own lane without waiting for platforms. His advice for artists: "Find your own lane, carve your own lane and stay within it, but at the same time experiment and stay curious—doing what's true to you." We also talk about the importance…

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