Cody Hooper

Cody Hooper is a contemporary American painter based in Austin, Texas, whose work explores the expressive potential of abstraction through richly layered surfaces and nuanced color fields. Raised in North Texas and deeply influenced by the natural world, music, and early exposure to the arts, Hooper began formal training at the age of eleven under Southwest watercolorist Barbara Hughes. This early foundation in realism and complex layering techniques remains integral to his practice. 

Over time, Hooper transitioned from representational painting to abstraction, drawn to its freedom and capacity for emotional resonance. His work reflects a careful balance of discipline and spontaneity, where texture, composition, and color converge to create meditative and immersive visual experiences. I n flu e n c e d b y principles of design, architecture, and color theory, his paintings often evoke both stillness and motion. 

Known for his attention to craft, Hooper works on custom wood panels with refined finishes that elevate the tactile presence o f each piece. His work ranges from sleek and contemporary to weathered and organic, and is exhibited in Lahaina Galleries as well as in private and public collections worldwide.