Meet Lex Norris | Freelance Illustrator and Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lex Norris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lex, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
In hindsight, a career in art was written for me before I even knew it could be a career. My mother was a librarian and I spent a lot of time in the library growing up, and one of my earliest memories was going to a book fair and getting my book signed by Dav Pilkey, another Ohio native whose graphic novels I soon loved as a kid. I spent so much time as a child obsessively drawing, creating comics, renting out manga from the library and just copying everything I saw; I’ve always loved art and always loved creating.

I realized as I got older, and my time got occupied by school and work and the other burdens of being an adult, I was drifting further and further away from my purpose and talent. Choosing to pursue a creative career for me meant acknowledging my inner child, and this is a journey of finding my way back to her.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Truthfully, I feel as though my professional creative career is just getting started. It was only a few years ago that I decided to start freelancing on the side, which felt like such a huge leap to me. I am still waiting to jump fully off the plane and rely solely on my art! With that, I’m not sure if I’m fully capable to answer how’d I get to where I am…but it does start with courage and a leap.

I think one of my biggest challenges was saying “no” to certain projects/work, but once I overcame that, it felt like a burden was lifted from the experience of freelancing. Conquer saying no!

In terms of competencies, what sets me apart might be my fashion background. I majored in fashion design (cut and sew) when I found out the university I had fallen in love with did not offer illustration. Individually, my obsession with research and conceptualization sets me apart. I need to know about everything, I need all the theories, and how I can apply that to my practice. I am a product of the public library after all.

I want the public to know my brand is surreal, absurd, and whimsical; It’s the black experience

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Damn, I’ve been in Columbus for 2 years so I’m still finding out about places myself! But okay, itinerary…this is assuming everything I love is going on the same week: for breakfast/brunch I’d take my friend to Lindey’s, 4th and State, or Two Dollar Radio Headquarters throughout the week. Lunch at Portias Cafe or Press grill, dinner at Cento or Sow Plated. I do not drink anymore, but will always appreciate a bar with a rooftop and/or ambient lighting, and Brass Eye on top of Junto or Apt. B in the back of Bodega will do. If you just want to kick it with food and a rooftop, Budd Dairy.

I always take friends by Sole Classics for shoe shopping, and I’m a heavy 2nd hand/thrift shopper so I’ll make it a mission to take my friend into Street 2 Vintage.

It’s always something to do in the city, but if I want to be around some cool people, I’ll keep up with the local Columbus collective Aisle 6 and see what events they have going on, or just follow some of my favorite dj’s to wherever they’re spinning (see: Satele, Sonicc Blush, KMB, DJ Bern, A6 Cam + A6 General)

Finally, end the week with some morning pilates at the Replenish Studios. I think that covers it?

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To start, I have to shoutout the person who introduced me to Rahul and Shoutout Ohio, and that is Jonathan Johnson. Jon is so incredibly supportive of not only me, but anyone he comes across. It is the people like Jon who will speak your name in rooms that you are not in who I value so much, and I will always do the same for him. Jon, I love you!

I will forever shoutout my mom and my grandma. They are my constant, they are my cheerleaders, they are my protectors. Noticing my talent and letting me harness that, whether in art classes at the library to the dining room table at granny’s; they’ve always believed in me.

To my dad for just being the coolest, and the direct source of my talent and interest in art.

And to my grade school bestie Ben Frankenhoff. My first partner in crime and coconspirator. We both shared a love for SpongeBob and Dav Pilkey books, so we as 3rd graders made our own original characters and comic books! Staying up and drawing with him will always be one of my fondest memories.

Website: https://xelrachaworld.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/xelracha

Twitter: https://x.com/niceohiogirl

Image Credits
first photo photographed by @generalpublicstwr