David Choe

David Choe was born (1976) and raised in Los Angeles. He is one of the most diverse and prolific artists working today. One of the youngest artists to ever have solo show at the MOCA. He has had his art shown on every surface, from canvases to human bodies, to third world war torn walls, his art can be found in every facet of society, from galleries, museums, t-shirts, toys, shoes, movies, billboards, cars, murals, buildings, from New York City to the Congo, Africa to everywhere in between.

David has spoken and lectured at Princeton, DUKE, Dartmouth and other art colleges, he works in every medium, and can paint anything and everything as well as on anything and everything. He has designed and created fine art, murals, movie sets, movie posters, album covers, shoes, t-shirts, toys, calendars, commercials, cars, magazines, books, illustrations for children's story books, comics, and animation. He has curated art shows, art directed books and magazines, as well as self-publishing all his own books which have all won numerous awards.

For David Choe, the creative process is part of the narrative journey. “I don’t even know what the outcome is gonna be, but that’s part of the process, the journey has been amazing so far!” His multi-layered works are a combination of an innate desire to create and an uncontrollable raw energy. Working from memories from his childhood, African jungles, and hitchhiking across the world, Choe transcribes these sights and tales into his art. Through rustic portrayals of eating, praying, crying, and dying, Choe explores cycles of regeneration in both the self and human nature as a whole. His love of animals and food, quest for peace and reemption, through these strong narratives.

Fascinated by the unpredictable outcome of fusing various mediums, Choe’s experimental techniques are a combination of chance, art, and alchemy. Inspired by the quickness and immediacy of the graffiti process, Choe transforms the gallery into a personal environment of idiosyncratic expression. Choe paints on canvas, paper and wood using a variety of materials including crayons, oil, house paint and latex, to acrylics, pens, watercolors, and spray paint. Choe’s restless creativity allows him to break ground in both subject matter and medium. Choe’s somewhat manic style combines the raw with the refined. Although prone to moments of reckless scrawling, he ties his pieces together with elegantly effortless brush strokes, daring color palates, and carefully constructed layers. Choe brings his visceral adaptations of pain and beauty to his art. His intricate stylings portray an equally intricate interpretation of the world and people around him.There is an irrepressible chaos surrounding David Choe that is utterly addictive, whether he is talking about the LA riots in '92 or hitchhiking the world over.