Andrew Hem’s Ethereal Paintings Reflect a Sense of Endless Wonder

a painting of a woman surrounded by blue floating jellyfish
All images @ Andrew Hem, shared with permission

Andrew Hem’s Ethereal Paintings Reflect a Sense of Endless Wonder

Occupying vibrant, unearthly environments, Andrew Hem’s characters exude a sense of wonder and openness toward the world. The Los Angeles-based artist (previously) continues his fantastic, gravity-defying works that see figures float upside down or amid a sea of jellyfish. 

Now a father of two, Hem frequently reflects on his Cambodian heritage and how he’s sharing it with his children. The artist translates his pride for his homeland into each painting, rendering figures who are re-orienting themselves in novel, dreamlike situations. The largely introspective subjects gravitate toward calm and finding joy in the simple and mundane.

Follow Hem’s work on Instagram.

a painting of a girl in a red jacket holding a rose in a glass
a painting of a woman in a yellow shirt  standing in front of a busy street scene with a faceless person in the background
a painting angled down to look at a man holding a small drawing on a balcony that looks out over a courtyard of an apartment building
a nighttime scene of three people, two in masks, gathering in a public space
a painting of a woman floating upside down and reflected in the water below
a shirtless boy in a small boat floats amid water topped with lily pads

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