Wes Lang

For Wes Lang, spirituality and pop culture aren’t all that different. His work is an eclectic mix of references – from Playboy Bunnies to the Grim Reaper. As a child, Lang collected Native American toys and comic book ads. Today, he draws on similar themes and can paint up to thirty canvases in quick succession. Each starts with an undercoat in black, followed by white. Then, he illustrates detailed figures and symbols in vibrant colours. Lang loves Jean-Michel Basquiat's expressionist paintings, and the exaggerated colours of Philip Guston. Their imaginative work and cultural commentary feeds into Lang’s style.

Lang's art revels in spiritual cultures. The repetition of skeletons are reminders to embrace and appreciate life. "I don't paint with any intention of being morbid. They're definitely celebratory”. Growing up, Lang heard lectures by New Age thinkers Deepak Chopra and Ram Dass. Both promote psychology, Buddhism and Taoism for practicing a spiritual life. Nowadays, Lang’s led by the Tao Te Ching – a Chinese Taoist text from 400 BC on the art of living. He says, “my work is about making the most out of this complicated and wonderful world”.