An Art Star in the Star City.
Walt will be missed. We can only hope to carry forward some of the positive energy and good vibes that defined him, knowing that his artistic work will live on.
Although I never had the chance to meet Walt in person, we exchanged messages about his work. He was kind, supportive of the magazine, and eloquent and funny in our chats. His artwork is enchanting and he was prolific all the way.
Rita had the opportunity to meet him when he came to her studio in the Aurora Building to pick up copies of Print #49 that featured his artwork. She described him as a Chanel dream in his cotton candy suit, perfect blonde hair, Versace Scarf, and black jewelry accessories.
When we began assembling a board for the 16 Blocks nonprofit, Walt was a natural choice. He enthusiastically said yes, and as we learned more about his life, we discovered just how many people in Roanoke and beyond had been touched by his artwork and his work as a stylist.
Around that time, I had begun experimenting with animating original artwork using some of the early generative AI tools, and created two short animations from Walt’s paintings.
Walt Hodges: Art in Motion
