Founder | Creative Director | Founding Visionary

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Founding Visionary | Contributing Artist (2023–Present)

A Founding Visionary and vital force in GROTA’s early becoming, Victor helped translate Vincent Gothe’s vision into film, performance, and poetry. His work shaped our foundational tone—most notably through our introduction videos and visual storytelling. Today, Victor continues to document GROTA’s growth and spirit through ongoing creative projects that reflect the core values of our residency.

“Welcome to GROTA! It's Victor Lockhart here! Contributing Artist for Gothe Residency Of The Arts. I am a Writer, Poet and Filmmaker, enchanted by the dark, macabre and mysterious. All my life I have felt the desire to tell stories, whether it be through a few scribbled lines or through a lens. I've been making little films and developed a taste for the dramatic since I was a little boy. My head has always been full of Grimm tales and ghosts and I would often spend my days stumbling through forests and fields, filming anything and everything that inspired me. Since then, I've found it hard to see life outside of angles and shots. In my head, everything has a story in it and I believe strongly in the power of imagery to reveal deep metaphor, meaning and show that even the most joyful of stories can have dark twists and turns. There is no light without dark after all. 

As a founding visionary for GROTA, and one of the first to join, I have been enthusiastic to represent Vincent Gothe's vision of our future residency through film, performance and poetry. Since I joined the project, I have seen the community grow and thrive and I hope to work more closely in documenting the progress of GROTA as we approach our funding goals as well as express my dark creativity within the residence with other creatives who share my passions. 

You can follow and support my contributions to GROTA as well as my own creative journey on my YouTube -”

Founding Visionary | Contributing Artist (2022–Present)

As the first official visionary invited to assist Vincent Gothe with various creative projects, Fallow poetry is known for demonstrating GROTA’s vision and values to our community. He continues to inspire us through his ongoing contributions, devoting his voice and vision towards fostering a space where the dark creative spirit can thrive.

“Welcome and blessings! My name is Fallow Versailles (He/him, They/them) also known by the pen name Achilles Mortimer, I am one of the founding visionaries and contributing artists of Gothe Residency Of The Arts. I consider myself to be a gothic romantic poet, weaving words that touch on themes of love, death, and the dark yet beautiful sides of life, as well as gazing beyond the material world, and into the spiritual and metaphysical. The art of poetry has always been a way for me to process the world and my emotions in a way that standard language cannot, as well as connecting with others in a more meaningful way. 

To find a sanctuary for the dark spirited such as GROTA feels like a true gift, and by working with various creatives, I hope to play a part in bringing our collective vision to life, and uphold our values of creativity, inspiration, empathy, and connection.  ~Blessed be”

IG: @skeletonhands.poetry

Founding Visionary | Contributing Artist (2023–Present)

Damien is known for his heartfelt and personal visionary artwork, largely reflecting our found family and communities’ sentiments for GROTA as a safe space and creative sanctuary. He continues to contribute various artworks and designs to our ongoing projects, programs, and patreon rewards.

“Greetings! Mabuhay! My name is Robert Damien Gravehill (He/Him). You may call me Damien or Graves for short, whichever you'd prefer! Im a Filipino Illustrator who constantly loves to shift the tone of their artworks. It can range from silly and whimsical to eldritch and horrifying (Or a mix of both if Im feeling it that day!) I am an illustrator with a morbid fascination for subjects considered dark and/or grotesque. I've always been inspired by my own vivid and wild dreams since I was a young boy. They tend to be surreal, eerie, and at times, post-apocalyptic. My art constantly shifts from whimsical in nature to something akin to cosmic horror due to those dreams. I also use my art as a form of closure and exploring different parts of my identity, drawing things from real life experiences and transforming them into something completely new.

I've worked with all kinds of art mediums (Digital, traditional, pen and ink, graphite, charcoal etc.) and still continue to explore more outlets for my desire to experiment and create. In the end, that's all I really want. To create art for myself and share them with people who may have similar experiences with whatever I've drawn.

GROTA has helped tremendously with that. It's a safe place where I can thrive and create and share my art with various artists who, although are all uniquely different, still share that same sentiment towards the dark arts. It is a community that overflows with passion and hospitality. A community where dark spirited artists can feel welcome and at home. Being a Contributing Artist [for GROTA’e various projects] feels like watching a dream unfold itself and slowly, but surely, manifest itself into reality. And I know that with enough support, that dream will eventually come true. “

IG: @ culpi_gravehill

Founding Visionary | Contributing Artist (2023–Present)

Ryu is known for his emotional and introspective creations, blending darkness, romance, taboos, and the complexity of human nature. Largely devoted to fostering a physical space and that supports our community’s creative exploration and personal growth, Ryu continues to dedicate his artistry and vision to various GROTA programmes and projects.

“Greetings and Welcome! My name is Ryu, I am one of the Community Leaders and Contributing Artists of the Gothe Residency of the Arts. Since my first years of life I have found in art a form of expression and introspection, as well as a way of understanding the world around me. And it is precisely since my childhood that I have been attracted to unusual concepts such as darkness, taboos or the incredible complexity of human nature.

During my adolescence I explored countless concepts, emotions and styles in the search for myself that led me to the privilege of studying Arts and learning various techniques and disciplines. From drawing, painting and sculpture to embroidery and tattooing, I have been making those disciplines available to my own creativity over the years, although I still consider myself an apprentice and I wish to constantly learn new disciplines and improve my skills. Since I also see myself as a humanist, I seek inspiration and knowledge wherever I go and I am constantly studying on my own.

As an artist with an unconventional style and values who has always struggled to find a place to belong, I have come to understand the need for a community that brings together artists with similar principles and goals and gives them the opportunity to develop their creativity and explore themselves. The possibility of making GROTA a reality is much more than a dream. It is the possibility of offering a safe place, a family and constant support to countless artists who need it.”

IG: @melancholic_vampyr

Founding Visionary | Contributing Artist (2023–Present)

Adrian is known for his poetic and musical contributions to various GROTA visionary projects ranging from GROTATOBER to the GROTA Darkmarket. Today, he continues to draw from his rich background in hospitality and music production to help nurture and enrich the communal experiences and visionary projects at GROTA.

Spotify | IG: @nocturnadrian

Founding Visionary | Contributing Artist | Assistant Gallery Director (2023-Present)

Emiland is known for his pivotal role as the gallery director and installation assistant for GROTA's inaugural international exhibition, GROTA VISIONS. He is also a key contributor to GROTA’s community safety policies and protocols. Today, Emiland continues to assist Vincent Gothe and GROTA by contributing to exhibition development, programming, community events, research, and various administrative tasks.

“Greetings! My name is Emiland Elias Kray (he/they) and I am a contributing visionary for the Gothe Residency of the Arts.  Community building and organizing are core elements of what I seek and value within the arts. It is a firm belief of mine that within a compassionate and inclusive community we can all be supported to truly be ourselves. My time is split between working for numerous nonprofits to help youth gain access to the arts and between working as a book binder. Maintaining and cultivating healthy artistic communities is truly my labor of love, and I am lucky to be working so closely with GROTA to make this vision a reality. I have received my BFA from the University of Nevada, Reno and have graduated with my MFA from the University of Arizona by making books and designing games. These art forms have easily woven their way into my efforts to cultivate loving communities around traditional crafts, fine art, and the gaming world. It's through these meaningful connections that gives my practice meaning and life.

Within GROTA, I am able to be generous and experience generosity, I am able to welcome others and to feel welcome myself. This community overflows with positive reciprocity and the deep love for the dark arts that I feel fortunate to participate within. Our team of diverse artists, makers, and writers are striving to make this project into a reality that can truly be a haven for the dark arts. To make this project a reality, we are collecting donations and pledges through patreon, organizing both online and in-person community events, and constantly moving towards our ultimate goal of being able to host an artist residency catered towards the dark arts. Ultimately, this space will not only support the careers of working artists, but also be a space where artists can learn and grow alongside one another. All support is welcome, and you can learn more on our Patreon.

With Love and Devotion, Emiland Kray”

IG: @troctopus | Website

Founding Visionary | Contributing Artist (2023–Present)

Pax is known for assisting in the coordination of GROTA’s Darkmarket and first Exhibitions: GROTA VISIONS, and The Hallowed Canvas Exhibition. Their support and experience with print making, photography, and studio assistance have largely contributed to GROTA’s success through the years.

“Hello, and welcome! My name is Pax Zeller (they/them), a contributing artist, founding visionary, and volunteer for Gothe Residency of the Arts. I am a remains artist, working mostly with taxidermy, bones, and recycled leather/metal, although I've picked up many forms of art over the years. My calling to art is in the cycle of it; art can last thousands of years, and when destroyed it can be used again. I'm also drawn to androgyny, so I use many themes like masculinity/femininity and life/death in my art. Currently, I'm on my way to becoming a full-time artist.

What originally drew me to GROTA was my own personal need for a dedicated time, space, and community for dark-spirited artists. As a neurodivergent individual, I always found myself most productive in the presence of other like-minded artists while in a studio environment. I believe in the importance of having both an artistically diverse community, and a community of similar artists. To surround yourself with artists of all mediums and philosophies is to expand your mind and art, and to surround yourself with like-minded artists is to expand upon your existing skill. Both are equally as important, but until now there has yet to be an opportunity for dark-spirited artists to experience the latter.

Although I am an artist, I also enjoy the numbers side of things. Spreadsheets, calculating costs, and packaging orders are all very mentally stimulating to me. I have worked in these capacities professionally through other businesses and in my own personal art business. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Vincent to flesh out this department of GROTA! Supporting us in whatever capacity you are able takes us one step closer to realizing this artist-in-residency experience.”

IG: @curios.arts