Cambodian born (LA based) painter Andrew Hem has a new exhibition entitled “Cold Water” on now at LeBasse Projects in Culver City, California.

His new paintings “explore the feeling of isolation we get when removed from those close to us – and the ensuing personal darkness that follows. As the viewer progresses through the paintings we can see how Hem emerges from those dark places and finds the road back to happiness.”  Hem states that the title ‘Cold Water’ is a reference to that feeling of ‘being surrounded by cold situations and places.’

Andrew Hem graduated from Art Center College of Design in 2006 and has exhibited internationally with shows in LA, Chicago, Seattle, NY and London. When not painting, Hem has built a career as an accomplished illustrator and designer working for clients such as Adidas, Lucky Brand Jeans, The Los Angeles Times, Sony Pictures as well as being published in the LA Times, Print Magazine, Guu Press and American Illustration. (bio from LeBasse Projects)

“Cold Water” runs through August 13, 2011. To see Hem’s previous work, visit AndrewHem.com.

Images courtesy of LeBasse Projects

Born during his parents’ flight from Cambodia in the wake of the Khmer Rouge genocide, Andrew grew up poised in the balance between two cultures — the gentle animistic society of his Khmer ancestors, and the dynamic urban arts of the tough Los Angeles neighborhood where his family eventually came to rest. Fascinated by graffiti at an early age, Hem honed his skills with graphics and composition on the walls of the city before following a passion for figure drawing to a degree in illustration from Art Center College of Design. Working in gouache, oil and acrylic, he weaves atmospheric, richly textured narratives in a vivid palette of twilight blues enlivened by swaths of deep red and splashes of golden light. Hem’s haunting impressions of culture and landscape evoke the life of the spirit through the visionary manifestation of memories and dreams.

Hem’s introspective, otherworldly paintings explore realities one step away from our everyday waking life. What if our thoughts flickered across the surface of our skin like ephemeral silent movies? What if spirits walked among us, trying to find their path? What if there were no racism, and even the most outlandish people were accepted? What if the children of Andrew’s native land had been allowed to live in peace and thrive? (from artist’s website by Amanda Erlanson)

To see more of Hem’s work, vist AndrewHem.com.