Dennis Hoekstra

Dennis Hoekstra’s sculpture, painting and installation practice is informed by the European artisanal traditions of faux-bois and faux-marbre, Hollywood set fabrication techniques, suburban backyard Halloween haunted houses and the vernacular of Disney theme parks especially their “dark rides.” In his formative years, the artist toured Disneyland’s fabrication facilities extensively with his father, “Dutch” Hoekstra, a member of their creative fabrication team from 1964 until 1979.

In his studio practice, Hoekstra mines a variety of text-based reference photos highlighting manifestations of ontological terror. The subject matter and reference materials include: animal rights activist vandalism, doomsday prepper websites, environmental activist interventions (Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd), Big Sur’s Esalen Institute, Stewart Brand’s Whole Earth Catalog, Alan Watts recordings, Zen poetry, cannabis culture and psychedelics (particularly set and setting), conspiracy theory radio (Art Bell’s Dark Matter, Coast to Coast AM, Caravan to Midnight), noetics and paranormal investigations.

Hoekstra has been featured in W Magazine, Modern Painters, Art in America, Purple Magazine, Blouin Art Info, Domus Magazine, CR Fashion Book, Playboy Magazine and Marie Claire Italia. Hoekstra's work has been shown and is available at LTD Los Angeles, The Hole, NYC, Annie Wharton, Los Angeles, 10 Hanover, London and Revolver, San Francisco.

Courtesy of the Artist