Funky wallpapers, vibrant colours, wavy lines…and an almost palpable joy that jumps from American artist Coopers’ large-scale canvases to its viewers. Part of an emerging generation of contemporary artists, the allure of Coopers’ paintings lies in his ability to find the magic in everyday, potentially mundane moments and objects.

Among the colourful depictions of cosy living room nooks, potted plants and coffee table books, one element in his works stand out: a deep love of and influence from music. It’s of course evident in his signature ‘speaker stacks’, a series of works inspired by Coopers’ memories of his grandparents’ prized possession – a 1966 HiFi speaker.

But even in all his other pieces, you can almost hear the flow and tempo of Coopers’ studio playlist when you’re looking at the various parts that make up each painting: the longer and groovier strokes of lo-fi, the harder beats of rap. And encompassing the entirety of Coopers’ artworks is a sense of positive, radiant energy – something he attributes to his dads’ love of The Beatles growing up.

Riding off the high of Wild Noise, his first international show with Maddox Gallery London created in partnership with KEF, Cooper is only at the beginning of his journey. We had a chance to delve into the artists’ relationship with music, and see how sound plays an essential role in creating the “meditative, zen-like” energy that exudes from each and every painting.

All Images: Maddox Gallery

Writer | Soyoung Park

Soyoung is a perpetual third culture kid currently in Hong Kong as Sound of Life’s Lead Editor. When not at her day job, she lives to explore and daydream about the underwater world.

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