BEING INSPIRED
ON THE ROAD
Andrew Hem reveals how he painted his favourite piece.
Sometimes, the journey is just as enjoyable as the destination...Interview
Going full-time
as an artist was my
way of being my
own band
PRISTINE
“Pristine is my fiancé. We’re getting married soon:
her name is Christine and I picture her as Pristine.”
Graffiti taught him the
fundamentals, but Andrew realised it
wasn’t something he wanted to do long
term after spending four days in
county jail for spraying art on an
abandoned building in San Francisco.
It was a “wake-up call.” He enrolled at
the Art Center College of Art and
Design in Pasadena. He graduated in
2006 when a degree in illustration and
immediately put all his energy into
building a career in art: “I knew it was
easier starting a band when you’re
young, rather than starting a band
when you have a family. So going full-
time as an artist was my way of being
my own band.”
It paid off pretty quickly. Andrew got
his solo exhibition at the Thinkspace
Gallery in 2007. In those days, he
juggled exhibition with work as a
commercial illustrator (Adidas, Lucky
Brand Jeans, the Los Angeles Times).
He still works commercially today, but
is now in a position where he has more
control. Still, commercial work isn’t
something tolerated solely for the
money. Andrew uses it as an
opportunity to push himself.