Image 1 of 3
Image 2 of 3
Image 3 of 3
About the painting
Converse Cowboy is a juxtaposition between iconic Rodeo imagery and modern day pop culture. Inspired by a real photograph of my Uncle John riding a bull in a pair of Chuck Taylors, this painting is meant to be a commentary on the modern day cowboy and society’s deepening obsession with the American West. Dressed in classic Levi's denim, a golf polo, and sneakers, the rider becomes a “modern cowboy.” Riding the bull is enabling our subject to play in two arenas, perhaps trying to prove his masculinity to the viewer.
At the center of the composition lies a tension between the two figures. The bull, massive and unbothered, embodies the enduring force of the American West. I chose to paint the bull in sepia as a nod to the original photo and it’s historical significance.
In contrast, the rider appears taut with regret, perhaps realizing his mistake in trying to “tame the beast.” I reimagined the rider in color to bring our cowboy into the modern day. Together the scene represents a broader cultural tension: a modern America reaching back toward the “Old West”, attempting to reclaim a sense of wildness, grit, independence, and identity.
The brand on the bull’s hindquarters is meant to evoke a strange familiarity with viewers, as it loosely draws on femininity and the Venus symbol.
Converse Cowboy can currently be found at The Local Dentist in Austin, TX.
