The Waterhole - 48”w x 36”w
- acrylic on canvas
This painting is an exploration of sexuality. A journey of awakening, unlocking, and exploring the world as a sexual being, as a gay man. This piece empowers us with the knowing that we have the freedom to be whoever it is that we may be, regardless of what part of the pool we swim to, or whatever proclivity the breeze introduces to our skin. At the waterhole, we answer with abandon — let’s dive in 💦
This painting was inspired by an upcoming erotic art competition I’ll be submitting it to. It pushed me to further explore erotic themes in my art and how to marry it to my own voice — I felt a deep sense of freedom and liberation when creating it, because it made me feel exposed.
My first gallery showing! Thank you SO much to everyone that came to support me, and all of the kind words from those afar 🙂. A very big thank you to @emerginggallery and @dtlaartnight for exhibiting my work and putting on an amazing night. ❤️
I’ll be showing my work again later this month, details to come 👨🏻🎨
The Frostline - 48”w x 36”h
- acrylic on canvas
The Frostline is a snapshot of the atrocities committed by ICE in Minneapolis earlier this year, and all across our country to this day. I found myself getting overwhelmed while I was staying up to date on the news and independent media sources, seeing the way this administration generalizes and degrades immigrant communities, and watching on the ground footage of the violence committed by ice agents while they attacked undocumented immigrants and American citizens, and ripped people away from their families, without due process, and without humanity. So I decided to paint about it.
Like the helicopter, our voice is powerful, and when one voice joins another, and another, and another… a chorus ensues, the light is magnified, and ICE begins to melt away.
#iceout #popart #politicalart
The Waterhole - 48”h x 36”w
-acrylic on canvas
What does it mean to awaken your sexuality? What does it look like? How does it feel? What part of the pool do you swim to?
The Waterhole - part 4
I’m having alot of fun with this piece. I tend to take on the energy of the subjects and world that I’m painting. Like it’s a source that I’m tapping into. And after doing a few heavier topic focused paintings, it feels like a breath of fresh air. Like my own little escape from the heavy parts of the world.
This painting allows me to draw from my own past experiences in Palm Springs. The mountains, the palm trees and the pools, to the gusts of wind, the parties, and the release of inhibitions. This piece makes me feel joy, excitement, curiosity, and power.
What does it make you feel?
The Frostline - 36”h d 48”w
- acrylic on canvas
This work explores the crimes and inhumanity coming from ICE and the Trump administration. From the fear engulfing immigrant communities, the murder of Alex Pretti, a memorial for Renee Good, protesting christian nationalism, the hypocrisy brewing inside many churches today, to community banding together to melt ICE and relinquish its hold on our nation, and even that one ICE agent slipping on actual ice that made us all laugh a few months back. This painting is a snapshot, a compilation of moments in time — a compilation I hope our country never repeats again.
Follow the path.
#ethankotchart #iceout #politicalart
🔥𝔼𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔾𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝔸𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕤𝕥🔥 The Cavern Ethan Kotch @ethankotch Ethan Kotch is a Los Angeles based Pop-Art artist that finds himself drawn to the space between opposites — where light meets dark, innocence confronts reality, and playfulness becomes a vehicle for truth. His work exists within this tension and is achieved through visual storytelling, exploring the complexities of the current state of our world and how we find our place within it (or outside of it). Ethan delves into heavy, often uncomfortable topics like political unrest, social inequality, LGBTQ+ rights, and the fragile state of our collective mental health – all through a childlike and whimsical lens. His main characters, the stars, help guide the viewer through each painting’s unique story, beckoning us to lay down our fears and reservations, and instead follow their example of courage, joy, and uninhibited curiosity. They are the angels on our right shoulder. The left? Well that is dependent upon the season, setting, and circumstances – a revolving residency.
On view and for sale at our Emerging Gallery in the HWH building. To become an artist application form in a bio #emergingartist #dtlaartnight
