Andrew Cooper isn’t exactly new to the art scene. You may not have heard of him yet, but that’s all about to change—and I’d be willing to bet that it’s in tremendous fashion.
Andrew Cooper: Bio in Brief
Cooper is a young artist in his late 20’s who’s well known in Los Angeles for his large wildflower murals splashed on the sides of buildings. He has also done commission work for Puma in collaboration with the late Nipsey Hussle, was a Mountain Dew partnered artist for the 2019 Dew Tour, and had a collab with Vans. In other words, this guy’s star power is rising faster than Blue Origin.
Born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, Cooper attended art school where he ended up getting his BA in graphic design. He later moved to Miami where he worked as a graphic designer for a record label. It was in Miami that he became inspired to create his own artwork and really started cutting his teeth.
Cooper then moved to Los Angeles and taught himself how to paint. Using color combinations and patterns that inspired him, he started creating gorgeous wildflower artworks—and influential brands started to take notice. Cooper decided in 2019 that it was time to get back to his roots and that he needed some time and space to expand both physically and mentally. So, he made the move back to Evansville, where he’d have a much larger studio with the creative space to grow.
Cooper’s Recent Work
While some of us (myself included) used the pandemic to grow an extra 15lbs, watch Tiger King, and binge on cheap wine, Cooper was one of the overachievers who took that time to really grow. He focused on his painting and leaned into what was inspiring him—which was not only the current art climate, but everything around him.
Feeling inspired, Cooper saw a shift in his work from decorative floral murals to interior still life portraits that are so versatile that everyone’s intrigued—from those who are passionate about modernism, to art geeks, and even those boho-chic types who love the Chip and Joanna Gaines collection as much as I do.
Cooper began painting scenes including a Hi-Fi stereo that he grew up with in his grandparents’ basement, along with flowers and plants that currently reside with him in his studio. He also started including other objects and scenes—a kitchen scene, a perfect living room, a gorgeous mid-century chair.
All seemingly normal, mundane scenes—but with vibrant pops of color and a style that’s so familiar and so full of pop-postmodernism 1990’s that you’ll wonder where you’ve seen it before… but you haven’t. It feels almost Jonas Wood in style and is a little evocative of David Hockney, but with a touch of whimsy and youthful swagger that makes it uniquely its own.
This versatility combined with edgy playfulness and sheer talent is probably why Guy Hepner took notice and hosted Cooper’s first gallery show back in April. And the show was an amazing hit—all but one piece sold almost immediately, and Cooper already has other galleries waiting to host him.
Not being able to attend a big NYC gallery show due to the pandemic was probably a bit of a disappointment for Cooper, but it didn’t seem to faze him at all—and for good reason… he’s completely booked with large format commissions through the rest of this summer.
Cooper’s work is magnetic, and while I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of him in the future, you can go check his work out right now in Los Angeles. He currently has two pieces at Maddox Gallery’s Dysmorphia show, which will remain on display until August 31. Get there if you can—you won’t be disappointed.
Maddox Gallery, 8811 Beverly Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90048
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