Justin Coursey, born in 1987 in Dallas, Texas, is a multidisciplinary artist based in Little Elm, Texas, where he maintains a full-time studio practice. He studied art at the University of North Texas, where he also met his wife, Nicole. Together, they share a creative home life with their four-year-old son, Conrad.

Coursey's work merges drawing, painting, and sculptural surface techniques, often starting with hand-built wooden panels. Using primarily acrylic, ink, and nib pen, he crafts vivid, illustrative pieces filled with recurring, whimsical characters, dimensional illusions, and bold color play. His compositions blur the line between two and three dimensions, inviting viewers into a world of hidden details and layered meanings.

A significant influence on Coursey’s artistic journey was his grandmother, Bernice “Nana” Landrum—a dedicated painter from Abilene, Texas—who introduced him early to both gallery life and landscape painting. His style is also shaped by the expressive chaos of Ralph Steadman and the narrative charm of Shel Silverstein.

Coursey has showcased his work at some of the nation’s top art festivals, including the Saint Louis Art Fair, Cherry Creek Arts Festival, Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, and Coconut Grove Arts Festival—earning numerous accolades along the way. His art has attracted a global audience, with collectors in Saudi Arabia, Berlin, Paris, Sydney, and Switzerland. On Instagram, he connects with over 150,000 followers, offering insight into his process, new creations, and artistic evolution.

Artist Statement:

The mind tends to wander when left in silence—this space, this quiet unpredictability, is where my work begins. I never plan my pieces. They emerge as instinctive responses to the chaos inside my head. Each character, each shape and line, is a surprise to me as much as it is to the viewer. People often ask, “Why the faces?” or “Is it you?” I find myself asking the same. Perhaps it’s the subconscious—those curious corners of the mind—shaping figures that carry my features, especially that prominent nose. There’s something fascinating about the questions that have no clear answers. My work lives in that space: between recognition and imagination, precision and play.