Artworks by Hank Lumen

Hank Lumen is a contemporary western painter working out of Santa Fe, NM. His paintings of cowboys, livestock, and celestial objects are products of imagination, that come from working seemingly meaningless shapes until they look like recognizable figures – like seeing a teddy bear in a formation in clouds. Hank describes his process as “a meaningless buildup of tones, shapes, and textures – and then a very purposeful reduction of those into something of my choosing. That I happen to see lots of cowboys and animals is merely incidental or lazy.” The paintings are rich with layers, texture, and movement that impart a raw, abrasively-honest feeling about them.

Hank has also taken creative and often comedic license to titling the paintings. “The naming of the paintings began as satire on how cringy artwork titles can be. But when I realized titles are a way I can safely say anything under the protection of “it’s art” – it took on a life of its own. Language has increasingly become another artistic avenue that interests me.”

Hank notes two major inspirations - the prehistoric cave art in Dordogne, France, and children’s artwork, in shaping his own aspirations of composition and beauty. Hank lives with his wife Sheila, their cat Pickles, and their feral bobcat Bob.