Edward Cushenberry

Edward Cushenberry is a Black American artist and photographer whose work explores intimacy, vulnerability, and the texture of everyday life. He’s drawn to the raw energy of punk, hardcore, and grindcore music, and his visual language is shaped by the novels, graphic novels, and indie, sci-fi, horror, and foreign films he devours. After studying photography at ArtCenter College of Design, he taught himself to draw by referencing band logos, book covers, and movie posters—creating a style that feels both deeply personal and visually charged. His work is honest, cinematic, and a little rough around the edges—always grounded in lived experience.

'I taught myself how to draw by referencing the punk, hardcore punk, grindcore, etc... graphics and logos from the bands I like, covers from novels and graphic novels that I read, and the movie posters from my favorite movies."

‘I’m not sure how I feel about living in a city where one of the only good things here is this dumb rinky dink used bookstore,” Lily told her best friend Ezekiel.

The Dachshund Beach Series. (Primsacolor, ink, graphite, and acrylic on 11x15 on Rives Bfk paper. 2023).

"The Polaroid drawing project started in 2018 after a close friendship/relationship ended. Afterward, I was afraid to get close to anyone with my camera, so I started drawing and painting Polaroid portraits based on my photos of my friends. I love my friends so much—they mean the world to me."