Jack Coulter

Artist Curiosity Post - 11/16/22

Jack Coulter is an artist that has a condition called musical synestasia which he uses to create abstract art. Born in 1994, Coulter was always surrounded by art. His aunt was an abstract print-maker and he cites Abstract Expressionism as one of his major influences. From a young age he recalled visualizing his heartbeat as colors which he quickly learned was a condition called musica synesthesia. He often paints with jazz music and became famous for painting his interpretation of music. In 2018 he was commissioned by the Freddie Mercury Estate to depict one of Freddie's iconic songs Mr Bad Guy. In 2021, Forbes featured him on their Top 30 under 30 list. His work is now owned by many important people and companies such as Anne Hathaway, Coca-Cola, Billie Eilish, and Hilary Weston.

Jack Coulter, Daylight (Harry Styles)

Jack Coulter, Mr. Bad Guy

Knowing that there are artists that have become successful from art that is similar to my style is so interesting to me, so when I first discovered Jack Coulter on Instagram I began looking at his work and I immediatly loved it. He doesn't envision music how I do, however his general movement within his pieces is somewhat similar to mine. I really enjoy the natural, organic shapes that he uses, and the absence of sharp lines in his work really conveys the softness of the songs that he has painted. I find it interesting that we see music so differently, however we both have synesthesia. He uses color in a similar way to me, however he tends to have softer lines and no general sense of shape or form wheras I tend to use distinct shapes and harsh lines. His pieces are definitely structured and I appreciate the compostion in many of them. He uses the idea of an L shape very often and the curve of his work really allows the viewers eye to follow his work and take in the whole piece. In conclusion, I think it is super interesting that we have different interpretations of music and how it is perceived, and I would love to see some of his work in person. I think his use of color and absence of shape is especially intriguing and I may try and integrate some of his techniques into my own work in the future.