Danny Cole (born January 10, 2000)[1] is an American painter and interdisciplinary artist based in New York City.[2][3] He is known for the simple doodled humanoids of his "Creature World" project.[4]
In 2025, Cole was named on Forbes's "30 Under 30" list in the category of "Art and Style".[5]
Early life
Originally from New Jersey, Cole has been creating art since he was a child. He filled journals with drawings before moving to painting.[6][7]
Cole moved to New York to pursue his career as an artist soon after graduating high school.[6]
Career
Shortly before his high school graduation in 2018, Cole's debut solo show, "Danny Cole's Departure" was held in partnership with Stephan Alexander's Ghost Gallery on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.[6][8][7]
That same year, Cole went to Coachella with Portugal. The Man, exhibiting his artwork as the band's live visuals on the festival’s main stage.[6][9][10] Also in 2018, Cole directed the animated music video for Cherry Glazerr's song "Daddi".[11]
In 2020, Cole was arrested for his "HollyCow" art installation, erected atop the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, California.[12]
Cole's interactive digital artworks have sold to more than 100,000 collectors as of 2024.[4]
Creature World
Cole is known for his trademark "Creatures": doodled, simple, round-faced humanoids that the artist says represent "a universal human spirit that transcends age, gender, and nationality".[17][18]
Multidisciplinary "Creature World" art activations have taken place, integrating mediums including painting, music, performance, dance, poetry, and cuisine.[19][20]
Cole's "Creature World" digital artworks have sold to more than 100,000 collectors.[4]
Reception
ArtNews draws parallels between Cole's career and the early careers of Keith Haring, KAWS, and Banksy. "[Like Cole, these artists] got their start by putting their work on the street, getting the public interested in their work before galleries".[17]
Grant Rindner of Nylon Magazine said "Cole's colorful characters are reminiscent of Keith Haring's signature creations, but where movement was central to the pop art icon's work, Cole translates his own thoughts and struggles into static snapshots of personal, private moments."[6]
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