Passenger X Wyatt Hersey: A Graphics Story

I come from a very creative family, so making visual art is in my DNA and is part of how I learned to interact with the world and with myself. I love the feeling of being inspired, that sort of electric zap that I feel when an idea for a painting comes to me fully formed, or when I look at art that makes me want to create.

I get a deep satisfaction from bringing things into the world that didn't exist before, and at the heart of my love for visual art is a sense of play, hopefulness and meaningful reflection. 

I think my style can be described as graphic neo-primitive, or neo-folk art maybe? My work lies at an intersection between automatic, handmade graphic art, graphic design, and illustration.

I'm really inspired by printmaking, textile art, and folk art from around the world. I love work that is legible and attention-grabbing but allows for longer digestion and contemplation and gives off a positive energy.

I get a lot of inspiration from my time outdoors, surfing, biking and birdwatching, as well as from museums and art shows where I can see the work of other artists and how they interpret the world.

For me, taking time to draw or paint is a time where I can move at my own pace, and slow down enough to process the things that have been happening in my life.

Going into my studio to work on a painting is like going to a refuge where I can connect with myself in whatever way I need to at the moment, whether thats feeling things that have been lingering or having the freedom to play music loud and dance.

I really need time alone to recharge, so having my work days be a time where I can be by myself is such a blessing.

I'm always trying to escape into the real world. I've always been much more oriented towards lifestyle, and living a good life rather than seeking stability or making lots of money which in a way is an orientation towards escaping the traps of the modern life.

To me the real world is out in nature, in river canyons and cascading birdsong and in the eyes of a good friend or lover, and I think it is imperative that we all do our best to escape the trance of obligations that come along with this incredible modern existence.

These designs were inspired by the outdoors and a sense of looking outward onto the landscape and the ocean. I took a patchwork approach to creating the pattern by using a series of blocks that are stacked together to create a sort of visual quilt. Each element plays off the next, creating rhythm and a playful sense of space.

I love using this style because it allows me to combine multiple little icons and scenes together with abstract patterns and colors. For the patch design I wanted to depict a person walking through the landscape because I felt like that would capture the outdoor spirit that makes Passenger the brand that it is.