Philip Hurtig
Born, 1957
Location of Birth: San Jose, CA, USA (Silicon Valley)
Residing and working in Burlington, WA, USA
Born and raised in the global tech center of Silicon Valley, Philip Hurtig's artistic journey began with a simple desire to draw. This childhood obsession grew into a lifelong commitment to the creative process. Inspired by the diverse cultural landscape of his surroundings, Philip pursued his education at San Jose State University, earning a degree in art specializing in Painting and Printmaking.
During his time at San Jose State University, Philip studied with world reknowned artists Fletcher Benton and Kenneth Auvil. Additionally, his exploration of photography in Monterey, CA, added depth to his artistic repertoire.
Philip's artistic style is characterized by halftone photomontage and collage techniques, which combine analogue and digital processes to create boldly detailed designs. As a printmaker and painter he seeks to evoke primal emotions and provoke deep debate through his work.
Drawing inspiration from movements such as Dada and Pop collage, as well as 16th-century Northern European relief printmaking, Philip's artwork explores themes of contemporary cultural boundaries and mortality. Influenced by visionaries like Richard Hamilton, Hannah Hoch, Franz Masereel, and Francisco Goya, Philip aims to transcend societal limitations while challenging excessive contemporary self-focus.
Statement
I Embrace
I Embrace:
The bullied and the abused, the ignored and the forgotten, the "unattractive", the different, the strange, the heartbroken, the anonymous, the silent sufferers, the weirdos, the oddballs, the quirks, the eccentrics, the socially awkward, the inappropriate laugher, those who just want to belong, the unread, the unheard, the unseen, the under-appreciated, the dreamers, the fools, the un-cools, the sensitive, the shy, the creatives, the unbelieved, the clumsy, the unloved, the unwanted, the non-conformist, the empty, the un-accepted, the dis-respected, the sorry, the sad, the anxious, the fragmented, the frightened, the under-protected, the mis-understood, the lost, the uninvited, the lonely, the obtuse, the freaks, the fairies, the brilliant and the brain-dead, the misfits, the rejected, the neglected, the disconnected, the isolated, and anyone who lives behind the scenes... You give me hope.
-Philip W. Hurtig, Copyright 2021