Your work is bold and vibrant, blending pop culture with intricate layering. What’s the most unexpected source of inspiration that has found its way into your art? 

Sourcing materials and ideas comes from the most obscure places. I will be watching a movie or listening to music, and a line will be said and it will trigger an idea for a painting. My notes section in my phone is bursting with different thoughts and ideas to hopefully be a painting one day.

Collage art can feel like organized chaos. How do you decide when a piece is finished, or do you just know when it’s time to put down the glue? 

While collaging I try and piece together a story with images and text. It is sometimes picked up on right away, other times it’s completely hidden. Once I have a sense of images relating to each other and communicating within themselves it’s time to stop that stage and go onto the next.

If your art had a soundtrack, what kind of music would it be? Are we talking classical symphony or a wild punk rock anthem? 

I love this question! I produce work with sounds of Rock, EDM and sometimes Modern Country. I will admit I will use the energy of music often to fuel ideas and sometimes the pace and how random images and or paint is applied. Artists are very connected to music as a whole, and in my case a necessary tool for creation.

Your pieces have a distinct energy that seems to leap off the canvas. Do you ever feel like your art has a life of its own, or are you always in control of the creative process?  

My work for sure has a life of its own. I will discover images relating and working by happenstance in paintings that most times end up being a strong if not main part of the work itself. Many times my idea of where a work is headed will be derailed by how images or text are communicating within each other and the work takes a life of its own.

You're about to make your debut at the Sun Valley Gallery. If you could give visitors one piece of advice on how to best experience your art, what would it be? 

I could not be more thrilled to be part of Sun Valley Gallery! My advice to viewing my work is to have your own art experience with it. We all have our own past and thoughts that will shape how we feel about a work. I hope my paintings bring a sense of joy, nostalgia, and never ending discovery while viewing my work.

John Joseph Hanright’s debut at the Sun Valley Gallery is not just an exhibition; it’s an invitation to experience art that pulses with life and color. Each piece tells a story, woven together with elements of surprise and familiarity. 

We look forward to welcoming you to this vibrant showcase and can't wait to see how Hanright’s work will inspire and resonate with you. Visit us at the Sun Valley Gallery to immerse yourself in this exciting new collection!

VIEW ALL THE PIECES HERE