Dan Colen

Exploring a range of styles and subjects, Dan Colen delves into the conceptual implications of materiality and mark-making.  

Biography of Dan Colen

Dan Colen was born in 1979 in Leonia, New Jersey, USA. He was raised Jewish and attended Solomon Schechter Day School.

The artist earned a B.F.A. in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2001. Following graduation, he relocated to the East Village in Manhattan, gaining recognition as an artist by June 2006.

Dan Colen's recent solo exhibitions include "High Noon" at Gagosian in Beverly Hills (2018), "Purgatory Paintings" at Massimo De Carlo in Milan (2017), "Oil Paintings" at Dallas Contemporary in Dallas (2016), and many more. Furthermore, the artist has participated in numerous group shows, including "From Day to Day" at the De La Cruz Collection in Miami (2019), "Abstract / Not Abstract" at the Moore Building in Miami (2017), and "Self" at Massimo De Carlo in London (2016), among others.

Colen's artworks are held in the HEART - Herning Museum of Contemporary Art (Herning), Dakis Joannou Collection (Athens), The Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art (Oslo), Jimenez-Colon Collection (Ponce), Moderna Museet (Stockholm), Newport Street Gallery (London), and The Whitney Museum of American Art (New York)."

Dan Colen's Art Style

In his early works, Colen devoted his efforts to meticulous oil renderings of mundane interiors, such as a disordered apartment bathroom, a teenager's bedroom, or a camping tent. Within these settings, he incorporated elements of the supernatural, including the Blue Fairy, Jesus Christ, twinkling cherubs, and even his deceased grandfather.

Captivated by how the physical characteristics of mediums shape their distinct forms and symbolic meanings, Colen navigates between meticulous artisanal techniques and the aesthetics of chance in his work.

In addition to his oil-on-canvas pieces, he frequently utilizes unconventional materials like chewing gum, flowers, and trash, allowing the unpredictable surfaces of these elements to dictate the final appearance of his work. Colen also creates time-based and three-dimensional pieces, including animatronic sculptures and performances. By incorporating imagery from popular culture, he challenges the distinction between fine art and subculture, examining the interplay between images and the materials shaping them.