I paint interiors – human interiors. I turn people inside out, revealing their spirit, and mine, and – hopefully, when you look at them – yours.
My figures straddle two worlds. They emerge from an undifferentiated place, recognizable forms mixed with remnants of an abstract whole, like a creature just breaking the surface of the ocean, its shape still distorted by the water’s lens.
Improvisation, chance, accident and surprise are central to my practice. I try to keep a portal open to my unconscious, and there’s a sense of collaborating with something larger than myself. This results in images I could neither plan nor duplicate.
Currently a studio artist at Artspace in Raleigh, NC.
EDUCATION
1992 MFA Savannah College of Art & Design
1989 BA University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 “Adam D. Cohen”, BSide, Raleigh, NC
2023 “Mining Surprises”, Huyler House Gallery, Dewees Island, SC
2022-2023 “Covers”, ACME, Carrboro, NC
2022 “Adam D. Cohen”, Monarch Realty, Raleigh, NC
2019 “Adam D. Cohen”, The Art of Style, Raleigh, NC
2019 “Big Bang”, The Well, Lakemont, GA
2018 "Sentience", The National Humanities Center, Durham, NC
2017 "The Unhoarding", Vintage Vault, Durham, NC
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 12x12, The Pocket Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2023 Durham Art Guild Annual Juried Exhibition, Durham, NC
2023 12x12 Member Showcase, artspace, Raleigh, NC
2023 NC Artists Exhibition, CAM, Raleigh, NC
2023 Studio Artist Showcase, artspace, Raleigh, NC
2023 Packard Group National Exhibition, Vermillion, SD
2023 Durham Art Guild Member Showcase, Durham, NC
2023 Recent drawings, The Pocket Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2022 “RACE: Are We So Different?”, NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC
2022 Group Art Show, Pullen Arts Center, Raleigh, NC
2022 “FRESH”, artspace, Raleigh, NC
2022 “Our Neighborhood”, The A.D. Gallery, Pembroke, NC
2021 “12x12 Days of Christmas”, Pocket Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2021 “Covid Creations”, Unity Fellowship Hall Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2021 “Corridors”, artspace, Raleigh, NC
2020 “FRESH”, artspace, Raleigh, NC
2020 “Exposed: Nudes in Art 2020”, Litmus Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2019 “Fresh Art”, Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA
2019 Member Showcase, United Arts Council, Raleigh, NC
2019 Finders Keepers Gallery, Clayton, GA
2019 Creative Unity, Unity of the Triangle, Raleigh, NC
2019 Adam Cohen and Martha Thorn, DOCK 1053, Raleigh, NC
2018 “Mapping Stories”, Projection/Performance, St. Augustine’s University, Raleigh, NC
2018 Creative Unity, Unity of the Triangle, Raleigh, NC
2018 National Juried Exhibition, South Cobb Arts Alliance, Mableton, Georgia
2018 "The Incredible Machine", Projection/Performance, NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
2017 "Unibrow", Goodyear Arts, Charlotte, NC
2017 Vintage Vault Booth, High Point Market, High Point, NC
2016 "Humor Me!", The Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh, NC
2012 NCCAF Art Show, The Open Eye Cafe, Carrboro, NC
2009 "Big Beard", Design Box, Raleigh, NC
2007 "Low Pop", Design Box, Raleigh, NC
2007 "Adam Cohen and Daniel Gallant", Alexander Building, Raleigh, NC
2006 "artSPARK", Raleigh, NC
CHARITY AUCTIONS/EXHIBITIONS
2022 Bara Bara Art Sale, Diamante Arts & Cultural Center, Raleigh, NC
2022 “ArtGIvers”, artspace, Raleigh, NC
2021 Art Out Loud/Band Together benefit to fight child hunger, Raleigh, NC
2021 The Green Chair Project Anniversary Auction, Raleigh, NC
2021 Monster Drawing Rally, The NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
2020 Toilet Paper Art Auction, Artist Relief Fund, Raleigh, NC
2020 VAE Annual Art Gala & Fundraiser, Raleigh, NC
2019 Monster Drawing Rally, The NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
2019 Art Out Loud/Band Together benefit to fight child hunger, Raleigh, NC
2019 Bal Masque to Combat Childhood Hunger, Raleigh, NC
2019 Brain Cancer Benefit at Kings, Raleigh, NC
2019 VAE Annual Art Gala & Fundraiser, Raleigh, NC
2018 City Farm Harvest Dinner, Raleigh, NC
2018 Monster Drawing Rally, The NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
2018 GO PELON St. Baldrick's Art Auction, Raleigh, NC
2018 VAE Annual Art Gala & Fundraiser, Raleigh, NC
2017 Monster Drawing Rally, The NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
2017 City Farm Harvest Dinner, Raleigh, NC
2016 Monster Drawing Rally, The NC Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
2009 Screw Cancer 1/SpazzFest, Greenville, NC
2003 SAFEChild Chair Auction, Raleigh, NC
2001 SAFEChild Chair Auction, Raleigh, NC
PUBLICATIONS/MEDIA
2023 “Hot Weather Won’t Stop Start of Cool Art Exhibit”, Vermillion Plain Talk
2023 “Island Energy”, Charleston Style & Design
2023 “Huyler House Gallery”, Charleston Style & Design
2023 “Leaning Into your Process with Adam D. Cohen”, Level Up Artists Podcast, Ep. 94
2023 “Go Figure”, Walter Magazine
2022 “Friends Help Make Another Dream Come True for Artist on the Autism Spectrum”, The Charlotte Observer
2019 “Adam Cohen”, Odd One Out Magazine
2017 “Monsters Invade the North Carolina Museum of Art”, The Daily Tar Heel
2015 “Get a Taste of Band Candy”, The (Raleigh) News & Observer
SPEAKING/TEACHING
2022 Visiting lecturer, ”Visiting Artists” class, Raleigh, NC
2017 Visiting lecturer, Living Arts College, Raleigh, NC
2017 “Saturday Cartoons,” North Carolina Museum of Art
2017 “Art Jokes”, North Carolina Museum of Art
2015 Visiting lecturer, Living Arts College, Raleigh, NC
2012 Graduation Commencement Speaker, Living Arts College, Raleigh, NC
2011 Featured speaker, “Creativity and Control”, Living Arts College, Raleigh, NC
2011 Ignite Durham Speaker, Carolina Theater, Durham, NC
AWARDS
2019 Fresh Art Award, Marin Society of Artists, Honorable Mention
2019 VAE Annual Gala Award, 3rd Place
2018 VAE/Jerry's Artarama Inspiration Award