Kohlben Vodden: Creating a Visual Story of Identity
Red Sebastian, 35.4 x 35.4 in, oil on canvas
Artist Kohlben Vodden in the studio
Green Che, 35.4 x 35.4 in, oil on canvas
Blue Paul-Emile, 35.4 x 35.4, oil on canvas
Blue Michael, 35.4 x 35.4 in, oil on canvas
Website: voddenoriginal.com
Instagram: @voddenoriginal
Contemporary-Abstract artist Kohlben Vodden utilizes psychology and geometry, along with an intense color palette to create oil portraits that tell a story. His focus on identity and aesthetic lead to a deep understanding of his subjects while establishing connection with the viewer.
Vodden honors the age-old tradition of portraiture through his use of oil paint, yet portrays his subjects in a modern light with strikingly bold colors and a Cubist approach to form. Each portrait is made up of abstracted shapes, colors, and patterns that come together as a whole to create an image of a unique individual.
How and when did you know you wanted to be an artist?
Like many children I was introduced to art through the means of a how-to-draw book, but unlike most - I was immediately spellbound by the idea of conceiving and creating art. Without being consciously aware, in that moment, I had found my purpose. To me, art was pure joyous escapism. The question of becoming an artist was never about how, it was simply a matter of when.
My artistic practice continued in adulthood, but it was hyper personal to me and I never shared it with the world for fear of not being good enough. It wasn't until the global pandemic hit in 2020, that I reevaluated my life and decided that life was too short to let fear stop me becoming an artist. During the lockdowns I spent all my spare time in the studio experimenting and developing what is now my distinct signature style. From the moment I published that first artwork, I received very positive feedback from the art world and that's when I knew it was now my time to be an artist.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
People. If you know what to look for, every face holds a big story. I see it as my job to find and reveal those stories.
What themes do you explore in your work?
I'm obsessed with psychological concepts such as identity. My works explore the dissonance that exists between a person's personal concept of themselves and the social image(s) they create for the world to see. The stories that exist in the between these identities is what is conveyed in my paintings through colour, shapes and symbolism.
How do you start a new piece?
Once I select a model, my process begins by uncovering their hidden story. I examine many images of the subject and engage in a deep meditative-like analysis of their face to identify geometric shapes, symbols, and patterns that are hidden to the casual observer. I then reconstruct their image using these shapes and patterns to creating a new visual story of their identity. All of these hours inform the underlying concept sketch before I even get into communicating emotion and narrative with colour and putting paint to canvas.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist most?
I've had two major experiences that have shaped my work as an artist.
My father passed away suddenly when I was young. The loss broke me and made me question everything that I had been told about how my life was supposed to be. It was a defining moment that shaped how I experience the world and it means I look at life very differently to most people. For an artist, this is a gift.
I moved from Australia to the United Kingdom in 2008. I moved alone and I built a new life from scratch. Though I had a very good life in Australia, it is a very isolated place both physically and culturally. To grow as an artist and a person, I knew I needed more. London is a melting pot of culture that inspires a lot of my thinking about identity.
What advice do you have for newer artists just getting started in their career?
Do not wait to be discovered. It very rarely happens in the romanticized way most art students and new artists are lead to believe it will. I can't stress enough how important it is take control of your own career. I think social media is an amazing means of doing this. Through social media, you can reach collectors, gallerists, curators, critics and editors. Use it to its full potential to raise your profile and build relationships.
What are your future goals and aspirations as an artist?
I've been fortunate in terms of collectors from around the world acquiring my artwork for their private collections, but I'd really like to take my artwork into public art contexts. I really love the idea that my artwork could inspire anyone and not just those who can afford it.