Andrew drawing as a child
When I was a kid I used to draw on the floor-to-celing mirrors in my room, in my “handy dandy” notebook, and all over custom made homework folders. But like many people, I lost touch with that part of myself as I grew older. Life became more complicated with family challenges and the pressure to be “practical”. Due to these issues I had decided to give up pursuing art.
"sign the wall"
Many years later, during a deeply emotional moment at Boston University, I felt motivated to draw again. I created a “sign the wall”, “living art piece” that everyone who visited my apartment would sign before they left. My friends loved the drawings and what I wrote under them. I eventually got so many compliments that I started to draw more often on different mediums including a guitar for my friend Seb. While all of this was happening, I started working with a therapist and began the path of healing childhood trauma. The encouragement and support I received reminded me that drawing was part of who I am.
andrew with "handy dandy notebook" and dad
After trying many different career paths, in December 2019, my dad intuitively bought me an iPad. Shortly after getting it, I started @api_rats and @wearecook with my friend Phil. The name @api_rats has personal roots but over time it’s come to stand for finding the beauty in things often overlooked.
Andrew in the painter's room
After a year or two of posting, my friend showed his uncle, Joe Biel (@joebiel20), my drawings and he loved them. So much so that he decided to get a gallery show for me with his friend Vonn Sumner (@vonnsumner) in Santa Ana, California. Having my own space was the dream I had as a kid according to my mom. The show was a lot of learning and a huge hit with the people who lived in the area. It’s really where @api_rats started to come together. My dad and I came up with the slogan: seeing the beauty in things that aren’t beautiful. Like rats! Rats are looked down on in society but at the end of the day they are living mammals just like you and me. In the years following, I’ve had other shows with my friends, Michael and Emily, in New York and Los Angeles that were a lot of fun.
"Dad I have no idea" Self Portrait
The art that I do has been a way for me to tell my story. I am an open book and wear my heart on my sleeve. Each piece is a representation of my mentality at the time I created it. The subject is usually an obstacle I’ve overcome or a message I am trying to relay about life. @api_rats has become cathartic for me and it’s a passion that I’ll never lose. I want to be an example for people to learn from. My art is a journey of finding out who I am and how I can take care of myself in order to be the best version of me I can possibly be. Even though a lot of the posts get really sad, I try to always end lightly so people are left with some kind of happiness and aren’t brought down by my art. Ultimately, I hope people enjoy what I make as much as I do.