Danny Cole is an American painter and interdisciplinary artist based in New York City. Cole is known for his art of an imaginary world, The Creature World, and the extravagant means in which he presents it. In 2018, popular New York magazine Milk published his introduction to the public eye, beginning the article: "It’s not often that you get the opportunity to speak with a prodigy. But if you ever do, you’ll know. Danny Cole is an 18-year-old up-and-coming artist, and we’ve been watching his star on the rise." From there, Cole has shared his art rapidly, from taking to the streets of New York York, to the main stage of Coachella, to his many one night shows which draw swarms of hundreds of attendees at only days notice. Paramind wrote of Cole's mission, "He accepts the power of connectivity and utilizes it within his every word, action, and most of all, within his every project and painting. It’s truly his mission to see humans hand in hand, listening when needed and speaking freely when required."
Early life
In his first interview with Milk, Cole described himself as growing up a very social kid, but descending into a deep dissociation that lead him to become very isolated from the world around him. Through that isolation, Cole found solace and understanding in his dreams of the imaginary world he now depicts in his paintings. His artwork became a way for him to make this internal place of comfort into something physical that could be seen, touched, and shared. Cole has been creating art since a very young age, despite only recently showcasing it publicly. In an interview with Nylon, Cole described filling up journals with drawings of his creatures for years before his transition to painting. Cole moved to New York to pursue his career as an artist only weeks after graduating High School.
Career and collaborations
Cole's debut solo show, "Danny Cole's Departure" was held in partnership with Stephan Alexander's Ghost Gallery in the Lower East Side shortly before his high school graduation. In the weeks prior to his exhibition, Cole traveled to Coachella with Portugal. The Man to exhibit his artwork as the band's live visuals on the main stage. Cole directed the animated music video for Cherry Glazerr's song, "Daddi." Danny Cole, Matt Shultz and Beck threw an art show in Greenpoint, Brooklyn that was captured by Rolling Stone Magazine with a photo journal. In January 2020, Converse published an editorial in which they highlighted Cole for using art to inspire progress.
