Derek Hess and related artists

Gritty, oblique imagery characterizes Derek Hess' unique approach to his artwork. Born and raised in Cleveland Ohio, Hess grew up surrounded by visual arts (his father taught at the Cleveland Institute of Art) but it was the human form that most inte...more

Gritty, oblique imagery characterizes Derek Hess' unique approach to his artwork. Born and raised in Cleveland Ohio, Hess grew up surrounded by visual arts (his father taught at the Cleveland Institute of Art) but it was the human form that most interested a young Derek. Kicking a 10 year stint with alcoholism in 1989 impacted his work while he struggled with personal demons, and he channeled much of the difficulties of life into an expressive DIY work ethic. His initial concert work was for underground shows in Cleveland and before too long he was designing record and CD covers for the likes of R.L. Burnside and Converge. His art is defined by thick clean lines, bright contrasting colors, and his signature dark twisted comic-book styled characters. To date, Hess has designed posters for artists like Nine Inch Nails, Pink Floyd and Pantera, and he's reached the heights many modern artists strive for- his work is on permanent display at the Louvre as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame....less