Danny Cole
Danny Cole | |
|---|---|
 Cole with his "Creature World" artwork in 2018 | |
| Born | January 10, 2000 |
| Occupation | Artist |
| Years active | 2018-present |
| Website | www |
Danny Cole (born January 10, 2000)[1] is an American painter and interdisciplinary artist based in New York City.[2][3] He is known for his simple doodled humanoids, created under the banner of Cole's "Creature World" project.[4]
In 2025, Cole was named on Forbes's "30 Under 30" list in the category of "Art and Style".[5]
Early life
[edit]Originally from New Jersey, Cole has been creating art since he was a child. He filled journals with drawings before moving to painting.[6][7]
Cole moved to New York to pursue his career as an artist soon after graduating high school.[6]
Career
[edit]Shortly before his high school graduation in 2018, Cole's debut solo show, "Danny Cole's Departure" was held in partnership with Stephan Alexander's Ghost Gallery in the Lower East Side in New York City.[6][8][7]
That same year, Cole went to Coachella with Portugal. The Man, exhibiting his artwork as the band's live visuals on the festival’s main stage.[6][9][10] Also in 2018, Cole directed the animated music video for Cherry Glazerr's song "Daddi".[11]
In 2020, Cole was arrested for his "HollyCow" art installation, erected atop the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, California.[12]
In 2021, Cole was selected to participate in a revival of the Cow Parade, sponsored by God’s Love We Deliver.[13][14]
In 2023, Cole debuted a sculptural show and clothing line at New York Fashion Week.[15][16]
Cole's interactive digital artworks have sold to more than 100,000 collectors as of 2024.[4]
Creature World
[edit]Cole is known for his trademark "Creatures": doodled, simple, round-faced humanoids that the artist says represent "a universal human spirit that transcends age, gender, and nationality".[17][18]
Multidisciplinary "Creature World" art activations have taken place, integrating mediums including painting, music, performance, dance, poetry, and cuisine.[19][20]
Cole's "Creature World" digital artworks have sold to more than 100,000 collectors.[4]
Reception
[edit]ArtNews draws parallels between Cole's career and the early careers of Keith Haring, KAWS, and Banksy. "[Like Cole, these artists] got their start by putting their work on the street, getting the public interested in their work before galleries".[17]
Grant Rindner of Nylon Magazine said "Cole's colorful characters are reminiscent of Keith Haring's signature creations, but where movement was central to the pop art icon's work, Cole translates his own thoughts and struggles into static snapshots of personal, private moments."[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Cole, Danny [@dannycoleee] (January 10, 2022). "i turn 22 today ..." (Tweet). Retrieved February 4, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Visual artist Danny Cole speaks on his most recent experience "A Battle for Harmony," CAN, cacti, and more". WBRU. July 11, 2019. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
- ^ "Artist Danny Cole on Dreams of A Utopia of Creatures and Vandalism". The Observer. April 12, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Danny Cole". Forbes. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
- ^ "Forbes 30 Under 30 2025: Art & Style". Forbes. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Meet Danny Cole, The Teenage Artist Collaborating with Portugal. The Man And Cherry Glazerr". NYLON. June 7, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
- ^ a b "Danny Cole And His Technicolor Dreamscape". Byline. June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "UUU VLOG 01". UUU Art Collective. March 1, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ "Portugal, The Man". Loose Change Animation. 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ "Danny Cole Invites To The Creature World To Go On Limitless Expeditions". Dirty Barn. March 16, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
- ^ "Cherry Glazerr - "Daddi" Video". Stereogum. November 8, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
- ^ "Meet the band that defaced the Hollywood sign with a painting of a cow". The Los Angeles Times. April 8, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "CREATURE COW ALLIANCE - Artist: Danny Cole". God’s Love We Deliver. August 23, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "Cow Parade Returns to N.Y.C., but Please Don't Steal Them This Time". The New York Times. August 23, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "Danny Cole Bridges Imaginative Art and Fashion With Creature World". Hypebeast. February 17, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
- ^ "Creature World Meets the Fashion World". Office Magazine. February 16, 2023. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
- ^ a b "A 'Creature' by Artist Danny Cole Mysteriously Appeared Overnight at Manhattan's High Line". ARTNews. June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "Creature World Drops "Crowd," the First Generative Open Edition Collection to Launch on OpenSea". OpenSea. March 2, 2023. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ Lecca, Sacha (August 20, 2019). "Matt Shultz, Beck and Friends Throw an Art Party in Brooklyn". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
- ^ "DANNY COLE WELCOMES YOU TO THE CREATURE WORLD". V Magazine. January 7, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2023.