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

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.