Interview
Justin W. Cox
Justin Cox works in acrylics, smearing and scraping. His love for the organic process of vibrant colors colliding with force and speed grew from a passion for unpredictable outcomes.
Through his ‘on-demand art’ approach, Justin works intimately with clients to quickly create custom pieces, and design interior spaces to meet their distinct tastes.
His private clients include iconic fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, who praised Justin’s work.
Justin’s signature styles, including the Wave, Heart and Lighthouse series, can be seen on paper, canvas, wood panels, surfboards, skateboards, apparel, notecards and vinyl window installations.
His art is featured in retail stores, offices, private homes and real estate companies all around the world. He has been featured in artist galleries in top-tier publications such as British Vogue, Esquire and Harper’s Bazaar.
Justin continues to evolve his style, explore new partnerships and find exciting ways to bring his art to life.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I have over 15 years of experience working in creative services for global fashion brands. I’ve designed showrooms, store windows and sets, in addition to styling photo shoots and creative for global events. All of this has developed my sensibility of composition, color and scale.
Growing up near the Jersey Shore, I draw inspiration from the fluid motion of the sea, and my time paddle boarding, body surfing and shooting underwater photos. The intensity and speed of my artistic process is influenced by the time I spent drumming in a punk-ska band.”
What inspires you?
“I am inspired by the sea, music, fashion, architecture and interiors.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I pursue a balance of paint within a white space surrounding the gesture. The paint flows and creates movement, and it directs the viewers’ eyes to follow the strokes.”
“A creative force. Justin’s art has incredible energy and life. Our stores, offices and my home wouldn’t be the same without his incredible paintings!
- Iconic fashion designer, Tommy Hilfiger commenting on Justin’s work.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is exciting, bold and positive. The bright color palette, and the pureness of color mixing with fluid strokes and smears gives my art motion and attitude.”
Which artists influence you most?
“My work is greatly influenced by the works of Kevin Kearns, Wolfgang Bloch, Marina Dunbar.”
What is your creative process like?
“Fast and furious. I plop down the paint and smear. The smearing process creates texture and different shades of color as the paint moves across the substrate. I try to use minimum strokes. I’m impatient and like to see results, so I whip through pieces quickly.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Art is about conveying an emotion. It can raise awareness and make a statement, or be subdued and pull together a room. It can be so many things.
With all the social channels, people can see more art. This makes art more approachable and allows people to meet the artist, and eventually potentially buy a piece or just become a fan. So there are other ways to see art, not just at a museum.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“The two exhibitions I’d like to highlight are:
2018:
- Rushing the Sea at Winter Studio, Brooklyn, NY in partnership with Kyle Black of Brooklyn Surf Co.
- The Other Art Fair. Mana Contemporary, Chicago, IL 2018: CCNS Art Fair, Norwalk, Connecticut.
Other shows include:
Partnerships:
2022:
- NY&CO Valentine's Day Photoshoot set.
2022 to 2018:
- Tommy Hilfiger global flagship store re-design London, Paris, Zurich, Amsterdam, Beijing, Dusseldorf.
2021:
- Skyframe artisan program offering framed limited edition prints online 2021: GAP Global Artist Program – custom t-shirt designs.
- Faris Surf & Sport Stores – Barnegat Light, Wave, Heart notecards and commissioned pieces.
2019:
- Compass Real Estate Rowayton, Connecticut.
- Infinity Real Estate – Kingswood II lobby installation in partnership with Wilkinson Architects.
- HomeSense stores U.S. – national program 150 limited edition prints.
- Dune + Salt, paintings and custom skateboards featured in store Hoboken, New Jersey.
- The Girt, featured artist, Sea Girt, New Jersey.
2018:
- Tommy Hilfiger corporate offices, New York, New Jersey.
- Painting with kids in Darien, Connecticut teaching children about artistic process.
Solo Exhibitions
2020:
- Commissioned live painting by the SoNo Collection, Norwalk, Connecticut for SoNo Art Cares in partnership with the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County.
- The Depot Youth Center, Darien, Connecticut. The Blue Wave mural. The Depot Youth Center provides a safe and inclusive environment for middle school and high school students with programming focused on building leadership and confidence.
2018:
- Rushing the Sea at Winter Studio, Brooklyn, NY in partnership with Kyle Black of Brooklyn Surf Co.
- Pushing Paint, Darien, Connecticut.
2017:
- Presenting Justin W. Cox TAG WALL Showroom, New York, NY 2017: Sunday at Sotheby’s Artist Series, Rowayton, Connecticut.
Group Exhibitions
2018:
- The Other Art Fair - Mana Contemporary, Chicago, IL 2018: CCNS Art Fair, Norwalk, Connecticut.
2017:
- CCNS Art Fair, Norwalk, Connecticut.”
