Artist Anthony Cudahy’s Journey from Florida to Brooklyn
Growing up in Fort Myers, Florida, artist Anthony Cudahy found solace and inspiration in the online art community on LiveJournal. Despite receiving encouragement from his mother, a painter herself, Cudahy longed for creative peers who shared his passion for art. This led him to spend hours messaging with fellow artists on the blogging site, shaping his artistic identity and practice.
After moving to Brooklyn in 2007 to study graphic design and illustration at Pratt Institute, Cudahy continued to draw on his online experiences to inform his work. His paintings, which he describes as a collection of images akin to a Tumblr feed, incorporate a wide range of sources, from classical masterpieces to archival news footage.
One of Cudahy’s recent works, “Arthur Russell on the Shore,” pays tribute to the pioneering experimental composer through a vibrant depiction of Russell playing his cello against a backdrop of electric pink paint. Inspired by a vacation snapshot, the painting captures the essence of Russell’s music and legacy.
Cudahy, who shares a studio with his husband, photographer Ian Lewandowski, in Brooklyn’s Kensington neighborhood, strives to complete each work in one sitting, using a wet-on-wet process that results in lush, vibrant colors. Lewandowski often serves as a subject in Cudahy’s paintings, adding a personal touch to the artist’s creations.
The couple also collaborate on projects, such as the series based on snapshots taken by Cudahy’s late great-uncle, a traveling musician. This series, along with other works, will be featured in Cudahy’s first U.S. museum survey at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art in Maine next month. For Cudahy, these paintings serve as a tribute to his great-uncle’s legacy, keeping it alive and fluid through art.
As Cudahy continues to explore the intersection of personal history, artistic expression, and online influences in his work, his journey from Florida to Brooklyn serves as a testament to the power of community and collaboration in the art world.
