SBP x Pride: Jilly Ballistic
You may have seen Jilly Ballistic’s street art throughout New York City in the form of spray-painted phrases of protest along busy sidewalks, subway ad commentary, or her unforgettable WWII-era images of people in gas masks appearing in stations and train cars among fleeting waves of commuters. As with all great street art, Jilly’s work is designed to catch you off guard, to inspire greater awareness about the social, political, and economic struggles of our time, entangling issues of consumerism with failures in government leadership and public health.
Although Ballistic’s pieces don’t always survive routine subway station and street cleanings, you can see more images of her pieces on Instagram and Twitter, and you can access her complete portfolio on Flickr. Jilly’s work has been featured in The Street Museum of Art’s “24hrs in NYC” exhibit, on Sold Magazine, and in Hyperallergic among others. Prints of her subway and street vandalism are available through House of Roulx.
Your sketchbook, “I Made This Very Far From You,” is a great ode to transit and the space that lies between people in the way that merges poems written for a faraway recipient with drawings and paintings, some on Postal Service stickers. Can you speak about the process of working on this project? What inspired you to begin your blank sketchbook?
I received a sketchbook as a gift from my sister back in late 2017. In the beginning, I had no real cohesive idea what it would turn into, but found myself drawing very simple figures that were enveloped by empty space or a sense of isolation. This is a running theme with my street art as well, so to add an additional layer, I attached colorful paintings made in quick bursts, just letting it out without thought. This is contrasted by poems whose narration is extremely heavy, longing. When the sketchbook was filled, it took a life of its own; it felt like a journal of someone far from who and what they know.
You’ve been pasting archival images, with a specific focus on political struggles and chemical warfare, as well as altering subway advertisements, throughout New York City over the past five years. What inspired you to begin making street art?
As with a lot of artists who choose to use the streets as their medium, it came out of a need to speak up, to respond to injustice and hypocrisy. Leaving work in a public space allows the viewer to know they are not alone during a crisis. Using walls and the subway helps regain a sense of control in chaotic times.
When did you first begin making art?
My earliest memory is writing on my bedroom walls with crayon.
Who are some of your queer creative heroes?
Not all heroes wear capes, but some dress, act and live as they damn well please. Those are my heroes. And they’re all around us.
What does Pride mean to you?
Never compromising and always moving forward. I love how the LGBTQ+ community takes care of each other and that empathy extends to all minorities.
What are some important issues you think we should be aware of in the global LGBTQ+ community?
The rise of white supremacy and authoritarianism is very real. Our progress can easily be taken away. Keep resisting for our community and others!
Do you have any advice for anyone struggling with coming out, or with their identity?
When you’re ready, you’ve got one hell of a beautiful supportive world waiting for you. Plus, we need you. The more of us out and speaking up, the more powerful we are.
We’re in a very difficult moment now, politically, health-wise. Can you speak about how you have used art to cope with tough times? Do you have any advice for those struggling to stay creative right now?
The work will come. You’ll be inspired at the right time. Don’t force it. Remember, this is a marathon not a sprint.
How can people support your work? Are there any organizations you would like others to support as well?
Have conversations with others who think graffiti and street art is just vandalism. Let them know why we do it. Where it comes from. Look into what your community needs and figure out what role you can play. Everything helps.