Chasing Patterns: Spotlighting Kintrez Fowlkes '21

Born and raised in Baltimore City, Kintrez “Trez” Fowlkes is the oldest of three brothers—triplets. He and his younger brothers, Justin (Archbishop Curley) and Tre (Baltimore City College High School), are artists in their own right—a bond that keeps them close—but each has found their own niche between drawing, painting, and music.They often collaborate on different projects and post the results to their Instagram accounts (where you can find most of their work).

“As you can expect, brothers fight, but at the same time it’s not as bad as you think,” said Trez. “When you first see us, you’re like, ‘Oh they’re all the same,’ but if you get to know us, you can tell each of us has our own unique personalities and passions.”

Trez has been dabbling in art since he was five years old, but he didn’t start taking it seriously until about two years ago after facing an incredible tragedy. “I lost three people in my family within the span of a weekend, and it was very hard for me,” said Trez. “I’ve dealt with grief before, but that was the most people I had lost within that short amount of time.”

At first, drawing was an outlet—a way to cope— but it slowly started to blossom into a passion after he enrolled in Mrs. Virginia Petr’s drawing class that fall. “Until then, I was just drawing on pieces of copy paper that I found lying around, but when I got a sketchbook from Mrs. Petr, that really brought me back in, and I started taking my work more seriously because I actually had somewhere to keep all of it.”

Mrs. Petr remembers those early days well. “When Kintrez entered my drawing class, I quickly came to know him as the quiet, respectful, and attentive student who would draw the entire time he was in the room on any surface he could find that was pencil-worthy. His sketching during my instructions was merely a warmup for what came next. By the end of class, he had an audience of students admiring his work. Humbly, he would accept praise with only a short glance upward. The pencil was clearly an extension of his thoughts as they hit the paper.”

For Trez, a self-proclaimed introvert, he doesn’t share his work for the recognition. “When it comes to posting my work on Instagram, I don’t really care too much what people think. The whole point of posting is to show people that I’m consistent with my work. I don’t care about the likes or anything like that.” He also likes to wait a while to share after he finishes a new piece. “When it comes to art, I tend to underestimate myself, but I’m starting to learn that if I can take the time to appreciate my own work, I can give it out for others to appreciate.”

When asked to describe his favorite piece that he’s done, Trez lays his oversized portfolio case, which travels with him almost everywhere, on the table and pulls out a startling, yet beautiful drawing that he has titled Reality 410. “It’s a take on Michelangelo’s Pietà,” he says, which depicts the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus. “I just took that—a mother holding her dead child—and put my own twist on it. It’s to show the reality of Baltimore City, a place I’ve grown up all my life, because it’s sad to see so many young people getting killed.”

Trez’s time at Loyola has not only shaped him as a young man, but it has provided him with a broader view and acceptance of how others think. “Coming from St. Ignatius Loyola Academy in middle school, I went from being in the majority to the minority, so being at Loyola really opened me up to different perspectives and introduced me to people from all walks of life. My time here has definitely made me more understanding and accepting of others.”

One thing he will miss most about being on campus is the time he spent in the Ignatian Ministries Suite or the Murray Learning Commons, just drawing and talking with friends and faculty like theology teacher Mr. Justin White. “He was one of the first teachers who knew me before coming to Loyola.” said Trez. “Every time we speak, his energy is so positive and contagious.”

A similar sentiment is shared by Mr. White. “I remember one of my former students from Cristo Rey Jesuit High School said to me, ‘Mr. White, my cousin is going to Loyola Blakefield, look out for him.’ When I met Trez in the hallways of Loyola Blakefield his freshman year and recounted this conversation with his cousin to him, he quietly and confidently nodded and thanked me. I was always impressed by his quiet confidence.”

To look at Trez’s art is one thing, but to ask him his motivation behind his creations will take the listener on a journey of reflection and reconciliation.

It wasn’t until Trez’s junior year when Mr. White witnessed that with this quiet confidence came a beautiful and artistic depth. Trez attended Loyola Blakefield’s second annual Neighbors Retreat. This optional retreat brings together students, faculty, and staff to explore issues of racial justice through the lens of spirituality. “There was a moment when Trez shared thoughts during a big group session,” said Mr. White. “The room fell silent as both students and adults hung on his every word. His ability to be vulnerable, thoughtful, and unapologetically himself was a gift on that retreat and has been a gift during his time as Loyola. He has grown as a leader and uses both his voice and art to bring awareness to racial justice and mental health.”

At Mr. White’s request, Trez produced drawings of his mother and late father, as well as the late actor Chadwick Boseman. “I hold both of these creations to the highest levels and cherish them for their content, but also because of the hand that created them,” said Mr. White.

Trez has been commissioned by other Loyola faculty and staff members including President Anthony Day and longtime English teacher Raymond Brown ‘79. One of his more notable pieces, titled Mount Blakemore, is on display in the English wing in Wheeler Hall. It depicts Loyola legends Bill Korrow, John Stewart, Tim Pierce, Richard Prodey, and Jerry Savage as the faces on Mount Rushmore. “At the beginning of the school year while we were all virtual, I asked Kintrez about his artwork that he had on display in his background on Microsoft Teams. This started the conversation which resulted in him producing my vision of Mount Blakemore,” said Mr. Brown. “Each of these men, these Loyola educators and coaches, were highly influential to me as both a student and teacher.”

Trez begins to explain his process in great detail, “So I originally thought depending on which direction the faces were in the photos he gave me, I would just line them up that way, but I took inspiration from the actual Mount Rushmore, but I also wanted to give it my own taste...”

He is always willing to share his knowledge and techniques with those who are interested. Mr. White puts it best, “To look at Trez’s art is one thing, but to ask him his motivation behind his creations will take the listener on a journey of reflection and reconciliation.”

In fact, it is that patience and willingness to offer advice that prompted him to start his own club—the Creative Hive Club. “It started with a conversation with another student,” said Trez. “We were both just talking about our art. He was asking for advice, and I was trying to relay some of my knowledge to him.”

It also came as no surprise when he was awarded the Michael J. Iampieri Award during Loyola’s 169th Commencement on Saturday, June 5th. The award is presented each year to a graduating senior who has demonstrated personal and spiritual growth through his pursuit of creative self-expression and his achievements in the arts.

This fall, he and his brothers will be attending Towson University together. “My main focus right now is to do something with art, but I may also pursue business because I want to learn how to market myself and my art,” said Trez. Whatever he chooses to pursue, he is sure to tackle this new adventure as he always has, with quiet determination and openness to growth.

Be sure to follow Trez and his artistic endeavors on Instagram @kf0wlkes03.