Trenton Doyle Hancock is an American artist who works primarily in acrylic paint and mixed media, creating two-dimensional artworks that have an abstracted, collaged aesthetic. Born in Oklahoma and raised in Texas, the artist draws on his own personal history, as well as elements of pop culture and art history, in the making of his artworks.

The exuberant colours present in Hancock’s studio present a great overall picture of the aesthetic that the artist leans toward in his practice. I’m especially curious about the various objects from pop culture that are strewn on the floor in the foreground, in front of Hancock. There’s what looks like a giant ketchup bottle, perhaps a Goodyear blimp, and other recognizable objects rendered odd by their placement and scale.

The artist’s paintings seem to take over the space, making every wall look as though it’s been beautifully decorated in the artist’s own style. Painting cloths cover the floors, and there’s a table holding what looks like some paper, and maybe other art supplies. Curiously, a lamp is positioned under the table, apparently pointed at the floor.

Hancock himself appears very serious in this photo – so much so that his demeanor provides an interesting contrast to the energy and vibrancy of the works surrounding him. There’s a ladder to the artist’s left: I wonder how much higher the artworks stretch!

The artist’s paintings and mixed media works tend to explore narrative dichotomies, like the classic struggle between “good” and “evil” in popular culture. Hancock often incorporates words into his pieces, creating a playful yet almost manic appearance, something like the works of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Hancock currently lives and works in Houston, Texas, and his artworks exist in the collections of museums including MoMA, the Met, and the Brooklyn Museum.

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