About Textographies
Textographies is a blend of art and storytelling, masterfully crafted by artist Derrick Hickman. Hickman developed his text series in 2001 by placing abstracted words on canvas with unique palettes and line distortions. The first text painting came about organically as Derrick recounted his earliest memory of creating art through a large, rambling snippet of personal narrative.
The series has been a personal journey that is deeply autobiographical and confessional. Hickman’s art showcases stories from his life, focusing on moments of epiphany or understanding. The words and phrases are obscured by abstraction and an irregular cadence, giving viewers the feeling of uncovering a family secret.
The contorted letters and phrases also play with the idea of memory and its ever-evolving nature. In his work, Derrick acknowledges the role of cognitive distortion and its function in coping with adverse life events.
About the Artist
Derrick Hickman knew he was an artist from an early age, with his childhood filled with a stock of art supplies and plenty of support from his family.
His inspired childhood led him to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Illustration and Advertising from The Columbus College of Art and Design, as well as a BFA in Art Education from Ohio University.
After college, Derrick worked for a New York-based commercial mural studio, producing large-scale paintings for retail environments across the country. After several years of working on commercial projects, Derrick established his own studio focusing on residential murals. In 1999, he decided to pursue a completely different career path and began painting for himself as a form of release from the demands of client-driven projects.
In addition to the Textographies series, Hickman creates a very different series focused on vintage toys, advertising jargon, and childhood memories. The Textographies and Vintage Toy artwork series have two distinct styles, each serving as a departure from the other. This duality allows him the freedom to explore different techniques and themes. But, the idea of memory and its ever-evolving state is a recurring theme in both series of paintings.
Derrick's work is represented by several galleries in the United States and Europe, and he has completed several large-scale public murals in the U.S.