Luke Cooper

Columbus, OH

“Growing up, I often felt different from my peers. Social interactions and noisy environments were overwhelming, and maintaining focus on tasks was a constant challenge. Despite trying various sports like baseball, basketball, and volleyball, I always returned to drawing and creating—spaces where I found peace, joy, and freedom.”

At the age of nine, Luke Cooper’s (he/him) mother made prints of his paintings, and included them in a community based lemonade stand devoted to promoting entrepreneurship. Luke made a sale, his customer asked for his autograph, predicting that one day, he could be a famous artist. Luke made more than a sale that day, he turned natural talent into passion, drive, and determination to make good on that customer’s compliment. 

In addition to the constant support of his mother towards his creative expression, Luke also took everyday opportunities to practice his craft. “My family would often visit the art museum on Sundays when I was a child. I started to draw during church service when I was in grade school as church lasted six hours.”

As a neurodivergent self-taught artist manifesting moments in his day to create art, Luke typically captures his inspiration through photography first, and later reinterprets that photographic source material onto canvas. “Painting is often accompanied by listening to informative podcasts, which further fuels my creative process. I am particularly influenced by Impressionism, a movement that encourages viewers to appreciate both the overall composition and intricate details. I am naturally drawn to shapes, curves, and fluid forms, which also manifest in my self-portraits.” Additional sources of inspiration include humor, self-reflection, architecture, nature, and work that bridges the gap between nostalgia and pop culture. One such dream project features his favorite snack Planter’s brand cashews!

With work spanning from abstraction, Impressionism-inspired, portraiture, and installation, Luke’s work has been featured in several prominent exhibitions including the Cincinnati Museum of Art, Massillon Art Museum, Springfield Art Museum, and Franklin Park Conservatory Art Gallery. He was awarded with the 2025 VSA Emerging Artist Excellence Award from The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. With a mature colour palette, Luke’s painting style is versatile and sophisticated, rendered with a calm resolve, and an ease that belies his busy life as both artist and college student. 

“Art has become my sanctuary and means of self-expression, enabling me to communicate complex emotions that are sometimes difficult to articulate. The ability to hyper-focus while creating has been invaluable in capturing the intricate details within my work. Painting has had a profoundly positive impact on my mental health and has become an essential part of my identity."

"Creating art is not just what I do—it's who I am and where I find fulfillment.”