About
Artist Statement
The primary emotion I try to elicit in a viewer is Wonder. I want you to feel curious, inspired and courageous. I seek to take you on a journey to understand the complex human experience better, and investigate the myths and stories we tell each other that weave the secret fabric of our lives. These stories often describe fantastic places and experiences that influence our imagination, and end up shaping the ordinary world. Myths help tell us who we are, where we come from, and where we can go from here.
I view art as a form of magical technology that can transform the way we see and interact with the world. My work is inspired by the belief that art has the power to connect us to the mysteries of the universe and unlock hidden potentials within ourselves. I love to create images that appear to belong in our everyday world, yet have resonances with things we have only seen in our dreams. I describe my style as Magic Futurism: it has elements of Fantastic Realism and Sci-Fi, with a strong figurative and design focus.
Magic Futurism is also a philosophy and artistic movement that seeks to explore the way we experience “Reality” through a more holistic and expansive framework than what is currently provided by the mainstream view. The goal is to envision a future where we thrive in harmony with each other, our creations, and environment.
If there’s a keyword that describes my art, it is “Weird”. What that means in my world is the feeling one gets when the line between the mundane and supernatural blur. It’s the feeling of encountering something both beautiful and strange. It is the allure of being pulled into a world that is at once uncanny and wondrous.
Bio
Dan Cohen is a classically trained painter, sculptor and muralist. His work has been shown at galleries and events around the world – and on many buildings and walls.
Dan’s influences include world mythologies, occult sciences, and alternative states of consciousness. His signature elements – beautifully rendered forms, archetypal symbolism, Alien Deco designs – bridge the past and future, magic and technology.
He currently lives in Portland, OR.
CV
EXPERIENCE
Dan Cohen Creative Labs, LLC, Owner
2000-Present, Portland, OR
Innovative Fine Art, Large Scale Murals, and Illustration.
Lumenal Code, LLC, Partner
2007-Present, Portland, OR
Interactive Art Installations, Brand Activation, Augmented Reality projects, and Projection Mapping
Art FX Murals, Lead Pictorial Painter, Art Director
1998-2016, Portland, OR
Large scale Advertisement &, Fine Art murals for such companies as Apple, Disney, Sony & Warner Bros
Urban Art Network, Founding Member, Director of the Board
2001-2006, Portland, OR
SELECTED PUBLIC ART PROJECTS
“Byblos”
Hoda’s Restaurant and Catering, Portland, OR 2025
“Fitness DNA”
Fitness Compound, Bothell, WA 2024
“Fitness Compound Interior”
Fitness Compound, Bothell, WA 2024
“Vanishing Falls”
Microsoft Headquarters, Redmond, WA 2024
“Tim Schride Memorial Mural”
Kaiser Permanente Headquarters, Portland OR, 2022
“Mini Tahoma”
Waterwall Fountain, Tacoma, WA 2021
“Adriene Cruz Mural Restoration”
Walnut Park Complex, Portland, OR, 2021
“La Reina Nueva (The New Queen)” w/Old City Artists
LA Plaza Village, Los Angeles, CA 2020
“Solarpunk Mural”
X-Lounge, Portland, OR 2020
“Sports Hero’s Journey”
Chehalem Fitness and Aquatic Center, Newberg, OR 2019
“Viaduct Waterfalls”
Tri-Met viaduct, Portland, OR 2019
“Rampage Restitution” w/ Lumenal Code
Portland Winter Light Festival, Portland, OR 2018
“Puppet Quest” w/ Lumenal Code
Downtown Hyatt, San Francisco, CA 2017
“Fair-haired Dumbbell Mural”
Fair-Haired Dumbbell Building, Portland, OR 2017
“Sovereign Hotel Mural”
Sovereign Hotel, Portland, OR 2016
“Boutique Sensorium” w/ Lumenal Code
Milan, Italy 2016
“Woodstock Mural”
New Seasons Market, Portland, OR 2015
“Mural of the Future” w/ Lumenal Code
Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA 2014
“Rose’s Story” w/ Lumenal Code
Jupiter Hotel, Portland, OR 2014
“Nike AR Murals” w/ Lumenal Code
Red Rock Casino, Las Vegas, NV 2014
“Ogle Mountain”
1001 Main st Building, Oregon City, OR 2014
“A Hero’s Journey” w/ Lumenal Code
Uline Arena, Washington DC, 2013
“Mattingly Mural Restoration”
Elsinore Theatre, Salem, OR 2013
“Itzakaya Mural” w/ Lumenal Code
Jupiter Hotel, Portland, OR 2013
“Weird Times Comix” w/ Lumenal Code
Lightning in a Bottle, Irvine, CA 2012
“Boldstage Mural” w/ Lumenal Code
SXSW, Austin, TX, 2012
“Masonic Ceiling”
Kenton Masonic Lodge, Portland, OR 2011
“Oaks Bottom Wildlife Mural”
Portland Memorial Building, Portland, OR 2009
“Yosemite Watershed Mural” w/ Lumenal Code
Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County, CA 2008
“7 Year Itch, Restoration” w/Art FX Murals
Fox Studio Lot, Burbank, CA 2007
“JVC Globe” w/Art FX Murals
Times Square, Manhattan, NY 2007
“LA Lakers All Stars” w/Art FX Murals
Figueroa Hotel, Los Angeles, CA 2005
“Vintage Cola Mural”
Weiden + Kennedy, Portland, OR 2003
“Portland City Scape Mural”
City Center Parking HQ, Portland, OR 2001
“Horse-Carriage Museum Mural” w/Art FX Murals
Gower St Horse and Carriage Museum, Los Angeles, CA 1999
EDUCATION
Winona State University, Winona, MN. B.F.A.
Summa Cum Laude, 1997.
Visions in the Mischtechnik, Teacher: Laurence Caruana, 2008
Illustration Master Class, 2011-2018
SELECTED PUBLIC ART COLLECTIONS
Fresh Perspectives Portable Artworks collection, 2018
City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Infected by Art, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
Published by ArtOrder LLC
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Present-2018
ROSTER ARTIST
Everyday Original, NEW YORK City, NY
2024
ANIMALIA IV
ABEND GALLERY- GROUP SHOW
DENVER, CO
CHARACTER IN CONTEXT
A.R. MITCHELL MUSEUM-GROUP SHOW
TRINIDAD, CO
CONTEMPORARY FIGURATION
ABEND GALLERY- GROUP SHOW
DENVER, CO
MAIN SHOW
ILLUXCON – GROUP SHOW
READING, PA
2023
MAIN SHOW
ILLUXCON 2023
READING, PA
2022
SURREAL SALON 14
BATON ROUGE GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
BATON ROUGE, LA
PORTRAIT X
MODERN EDEN GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
2021
SURREAL SALON 13
BATON ROUGE GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
BATON ROUGE, LA
PORTRAIT IX
MODERN EDEN GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
2020
SURREAL SALON 12
BATON ROUGE GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
BATON ROUGE, LA
PRETTY AND PECULIAR
FE GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
SACREMENTO, CA
2019
MYTHIC
FE GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
SACREMENTO, CA
TINY VISIONS
THE HIVE GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
LOS ANGELES, CA
CHASING GHOSTS IV
VERUM ULTIMUM GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
PORTLAND, OR
40 IN 4-D
1+1=1 GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
HELENA, MT
2018
SURREAL SALON 10
BATON ROUGE GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
BATON ROUGE, LA
FIERCE AND FRAIL
VERUM ULTIMUM GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
PORTLAND, OR
FUN HOUSE
BARRETT ART CENTER – GROUP SHOW
POUGHKEEPSIE, NY
TINY VISIONS
THE HIVE GALLERY, – GROUP SHOW
LOS ANGELES, CA
CHASING GHOSTS III
VERUM ULTIMUM GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
PORTLAND, OR
2017
SURREAL SALON 9
BATON ROUGE GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
BATON ROUGE, LA
2016
I.M.C. (I MUST CREATE)
LOST ART GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
OAKVILLE, CT
AFRU: SCI-FI SHOW
AFRU GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
PORTLAND, OR
2015
DUNGEON HACKER
DIODE GALLERY – GROUP SHOW
PORTLAND, OR
2014
RED E GALLERY – SOLO SHOW
PORTLAND, OR
2013
LIMINALITY
AFRU GALLERY – SOLO SHOW
PORTLAND, OR
2012
BELOVED
PORTLAND ART MUSEUM
PORTLAND, OR
2010
ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS / ALIEN TECHNOLOGIES
TEMPLE OF VISIONS GALLERY, LOS ANGELES, CA
RESIDENT ARTIST
THE HIVE GALLERY, LOS ANGELES, CA
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Lumenal Code
Lumenal Code is the collaborative project of Dan Cohen and Gabe Shaughnessy. Since 2006 they have been creating multimedia installations and interactive art around the country. Their signature Augmented Reality Murals bring together the beauty and warmth of live analog painting with the spectacle of digital projections.
They encourage the audience to become participants in the creative experience, incorporating cutting edge interactive techniques in their installations.
Their work emphasizes the nexus between Fine Art and Digital Interactivity to create a next-level experience that dazzles and inspires. To see a selection of Their work visit augmentedart.com.