Hudson Hatfield is a Denver-based artist from Colorado Springs. He received a BFA in studio art with an emphasis in Printmaking from Purchase College in 2014. Hatfield’s post graduate resume is composed primarily of studio assistant positions for various artists on the East Coast including 2 years printing for Durham Press in Bucks County Pennsylvania, and 4 years fabricating for more commercial artists in Philadelphia. Upon moving to Denver in 2021, Hatfield took a dishwashing position at a local bar where he has been for the last 10 months. Hatfield’s studio practice incorporates a variety of techniques and media in attempts to break limitations based on previous training and schooling. When approaching a new process, YouTube is one of his most consistently used tools. As a result of his background in printmaking, Hatfield’s layered compositions have a strong emphasis on flat color. Similarly, the communication style in Hatfield’s work layers themes of spirituality, impermanence and sexual identity in relationship to landscape, geography, and pop culture, with an often slap stick or campy sense of humor and wit. Hudson Identifies as gay and uses he/him/his pronouns. Flaming is Hatfield’s second solo show with Lane Meyer Projects.

Flaming features nine wall-hanging bas-relief sculptural works, and represents the artist’s first fully three dimensional presentation. Thematically split in two, works inspired by the leading ladies and correlating romantic storylines from Jennifer’s Body (2009) and Romeo and Juliet (1996), act as playful metaphor to the artist’s own romantic relationship. Posed as angelic and devilish, religious iconography such as the sacred heart, feathery wings, and a burning bush work to ponder social convention and its presumed normalcy.

Described by Hatfield as a “cathedral for gay Halloween,” Flaming absorbs content from both pop culture references and personal experience, blending elements together with wit and ease. Colorful and clever, sexuality steps back into the limelight – welcoming summer and making up for lost time.

Virtual Studio Tours are 30 min interactive programs that explore local contemporary artist studios. Artists take viewers behind the scenes of their studio practice with insights into their processes, inspirations and artwork. Moderated by BMoCA’s Associate Curator of Community Engagement this Instagram Live series is an initiative to support local artists and give viewers the opportunity to take a closer look at art practices and ask questions to contemporary artists.