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Patrick Tiek – Hands on work

Making your name as a young, up-and-coming artist is not easy in any city, let alone Baton Rouge. Yet Patrick Tiek is doing just that on the strengths of his striking pop art and reclaimed woodwork that adorns the walls of galleries and shops around town, as well as his frequent appearances at popular live painting events.

The 26-year-old gained fans locally with vibrant paintings of pop culture icons on found pieces of wood he nails together. In July, he won third place at Art Melt for one of his works.

Although he has been painting from a young age, he discovered his affinity for using these handmade canvases just a few years ago while working on a construction site. He got the idea to bring some wood scraps home and craft them into canvases, and the response he got from interested art buyers was “night and day,” he says.

Tiek has since amassed a large collection of found wood pieces. “I’ll dig through my inventory of wood and pick up whatever pieces speak to me in that moment,” he says. “I like the hands-on part, building stuff.”

The self-proclaimed introvert tends to shy away from live painting events, which have become a big way for pop artists to pay the rent. “If I ever do it, I do it with several other live painters who are usually my friends, so it takes some of the pressure off of me,” he says. “I never do live paintings where it’s just me.”

He mostly seeks out opportunities via commissioned work. About 75% of his paintings are on commission.

His inspiration for the pieces comes mostly from everyday life. The painting of a crowned figure on a horse that placed at this summer’s Art Melt, for example, was inspired by a song from local band West Without.

Tiek recently teamed up with a couple of friends, fellow artists and musicians to create Skywalker Productions, which puts on events that blend local art and music. In August, they hosted an art show and live music event at the Pelican House. He is also working on a series of art furniture pieces, including carving a tiger skull on a wooden chair, which he plans to auction off at Junior League’s Hollydays in October.

Tiek’s work is available at Effum Bodyworks Tattoo Shop, The Pelican House, Aristocracy and Spanish Moon. Read more about him and find out about upcoming events at patricktiekart.com.