Darin Cooper
(Born 2000, Newport News, VA)

Bio
Darin Cooper is heavily influenced by Black Southern Culture, where the Church, hip hop, family and the legacies of American slavery were ubiquitous. In his work, Cooper also presents his interpretation of the various mechanisms of spiritual release Black people created for themselves throughout history. Cooper's work also contemplates lineage, memory, and mourning which coincide with erasure in consequence with slavery. Working primarily in acrylics, he achieves his signature watercolor-resembling look by using rubbing alcohol to disintegrate parts of the original pigment, creating a glaze of color across different shades. He then collages this foundation with referential prints to complete the intended image, building a mixed media take on traditional acrylic painting. Cooper has exhibited his work in several galleries and fairs such as Bode Projects, Grove Collective, Future Fair, Swivel Gallery, Andrea Festa Fine Art Gallery, and UTA and was a resident at The Macedonia Institute Residency. Cooper has also recently gained representation by UTA. He is currently pursuing his BFA at the School Of Visual Arts where he is expected to graduate in 2023.

Website
https://www.darin-cooper.com/