Meet Adam Hinkelman | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adam Hinkelman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adam, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have been artistically inclined from a very young age. However, pursuing a career in art is delicate process. Personally, I paint to convey deep ecological and naturalistic processing through painting. Some of this processes are based on geologic processes like geomorphic movements over time and others highlight trees as singular agents in a larger ecological network. Ultimately, I intend to illuminate the naturalistic subject matter in a way that valorizes it. However, now that I am completing my Masters of Fine Art at Colorado State University, my aim is to teach painting at an academic institution.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an artist who paints landscapes. My intention is to evoke a greater sense of agency to naturalistic features in a landscape through perspective, application of paint, and historical associations. Many of my paintings focus on a feature of the landscape which is often sublimated to the background or is lost amongst the larger expanse. I completed a series of paintings I call “tree portraits” which replace the human with a tree in traditional style portraiture. In comparison, my larger landscape pieces take into account variations of an environment including weather, tactility of the trail, human influences and more contributing to the final aesthetic. Unique to my process, is my incorporation of ultra trail running, allowing me to create a unique interaction to a place that goes beyond the representation of an image. I have experienced running up to 100 miles which offers an engagement to landscape unlike other activities. Most of my paintings which depict trees or other naturalistic features have been completed during my Master of Fine Art degree at Colorado State University. I will be completing my degree in Spring 2024. To get where I am, there are many incremental steps allowing me to pursue a career in art. After receiving my Undergraduate degree in Marketing and Art Minor in 2013, I continued to paint as a side business while working at a few outdoor industry companies. After completing my MFA degree I will be pursuing a academic teaching position for painting. Inspiring the next generation of painters and artists is my primary goal moving forward. I was fortunate to have my work presented in Dubai at the UN Climate Conference this past year. My work was discussed around issues regarding environmental sustainability and offering new ways of combining the arts and sciences. I was fortunate to have my work presented in Dubai at the UN Climate Conference this past year. My work was discussed around issues regarding environmental sustainability and offering new ways of combining the arts and sciences. 

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Fort Collins and I love to cruise the trails at Lory State Park either by running or hiking with my wife and son. Its a state park which feels quite removed from the city even through the proximity is still quite close in distance. As for food and drinks, I would get coffee at the Alley Cat Cafe, get apps at the Social, drinks at New Belgium, and eat tacos at Vato’s. Whats great about Fort Collins is that it has something for all ages and interests whether the Comedy Fort or Lee Martinez Farm near downtown.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my Shoutout to the Colorado State Art Department and specifically my advisor Erika Osborne for her exceptional guidance. I would also like to thank my wife Katy, son Stian, and the rest of my family for their support.

Website: https://www.adamhinkelman.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamhinkelman/?hl=en

Image Credits
All self photographed