CLIFF POWELL
Biography
Cliff Powell’s art sits at the crossroads of contemporary surrealism and fantasy. His work is about evoking emotion, curiosity, and introspection, where reality bends, the unseen becomes tangible, and details hold a deeper story. He explores duality, interconnectedness, transformation, and wonder, often juxtaposing organic and mechanical, the ethereal and the grounded, and the familiar and the fantastical. He describes his style as "a juxtaposition of the raw and refined™," where the gritty and polished converge to tell stories that resonate.
As a child, Cliff had an active imagination. Many of his concepts stem from childhood memories, fantasies, and experiences, interwoven with history, science fiction, retro-futurism, and the cosmos. His work reflects both a fascination with the unknown and a connection to the past, blending nostalgia with a vision of what lies ahead.
Born in 1978 in Lake Worth, Florida, and now residing in Wellington, Cliff’s journey to becoming a professional artist has been unconventional. His background includes roles as a touring musician and recording artist, general contractor, interior and architectural designer, and real estate developer. Each of these experiences has shaped his artistic approach—his design background brings a structured sensibility, while his music career instilled a sense of rhythm and storytelling in his work. He holds a BFA in Interior Design (Summa Cum Laude) and has extensive experience in graphic and digital design, computer-aided design (CAD), and BIM.
Driven by a passion for collecting art and a need for creative fulfillment, Cliff turned to painting as an outlet from the demands of corporate life. What began as a side pursuit soon evolved into a deeper artistic journey—one that continues to explore the interplay between reality, imagination, and personal expression.
Artist Statement
Blurring the line between reality and imagination, my paintings sit at the crossroads of contemporary surrealism and fantasy, exploring the interplay of perception, storytelling, and personal expression. Childhood memories, science fiction, the cosmos, and life experiences intertwine to create stories that unfold on canvas. My art is a juxtaposition of the raw and refined™, where the gritty and polished converge to tell stories that resonate.
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