Griffin Goodman
Griffin Goodman, born in 1995, is a Chicago-based visual artist known for merging pop culture and his own imagery into colorful large-scale paintings. Cultivating ideas through a contemporary exploration of identity, nostalgia, and iconography. He received his Master’s in painting and drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and his BFA from Ringling College of Art and Design. Andrew Rafacz Gallery in Chicago represents Goodman, and he works closely with Moosey Art in London. His work has been exhibited globally and is in numerous private collections.
Collect Bean: What does growth mean to you?
Griffin Goodman: As a human being and an artist, growth is everything. If you’re not growing, you’re dying. It’s crude, but I think it's very true. I hope I never stop growing as an artist or as a person. Growth means more potential, more things to learn, and more possibilities.
Collect Bean: If you had to describe your work in only three words, what would they be?
Griffin Goodman: Dense, Sugarcoated, Nostalgia.
Collect Bean: If you could be in a show with any artist, who would it be and why?
Griffin Goodman: Mike Kelley! (RIP) He and I both grew up in Michigan and play with similar themes in our art. He’s one of those artists I always look back at and try to dissect his work and study its magic. What I’ve admired within his practice most recently is his use of found objects, assemblages, and sculpture, which I have been playing a lot with in the studio.
Collect Bean: What is one of your current goals as an artist?
Griffin Goodman: A goal of mine is to exhibit more outside of Chicago. I have my eyes set on Tokyo, NYC, and LA!
Collect Bean: Do you have a saying that you live by?
Griffin Goodman: “Cause baby, you're a firework. Come on, show 'em what you're worth!” - Katy Perry.
Collect Bean: If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Griffin Goodman: Keep creating; you’re only getting better!
Collect Bean: How do you balance your practice with your daily life?
Griffin Goodman: I try to stay super organized and like a routine. I go to the gym every morning and to the studio every day. The evenings are usually my time to hang with family and friends and be social because most of the day, I’m by myself. I like my time alone to create but crave social interaction outside the studio. It's important to give yourself time outside the studio to enjoy and live life because that will inherently benefit your practice.
Collect Bean: What does your painting process look like from start to finish?
Griffin Goodman: My process starts with a thumbnail sketch/concept in my notebook. These thumbnails or notes consist of funny situations, childhood memories, or some wacky random thing that comes to me throughout the day. I then expand that idea into a more concrete sketch; this could take a week or so to get going and almost a month to finish, depending on how compact the sketch becomes. During this part, I’m constructing the skeleton of the painting—the bare bones and the outline/line work of the piece. Once the sketch is done, it solidifies the composition and sets the stage. While the sketch is being finalized, I’m usually building a stretcher or a panel and prepping the surface, which takes a good week or so, priming and sanding layer after layer. Once the surface is complete and ready to go, I’ll pencil the final sketch in and start to paint. The act of painting is the fun part that allows me to become more expressive and intuitive with my choices. I use a wide range of mediums and tools to complete the work, such as acrylic, enamel, spray paint, airbrush, rollers, sandpaper, and sponges. I don’t like to have everything figured out with the sketch, so there’s always room for improvisation and play. Depending on the sketch, the painting can be completed relatively quickly or become very long and tedious. Capturing small details and repeated imagery in a dense landscape takes time and precision to complete.
Collect Bean: What is one of your current goals as an artist?
Griffin Goodman: One of my current goals is to work on a public art project. I’d love to create something big and bold that people can interact with—something that becomes part of the fabric of a city and sparks conversations.
Collect Bean: Where are you currently finding inspiration?
Griffin Goodman: Lately, I’ve been finding inspiration in the most unexpected places. I’m drawn to old toys from the '60s, '70s, '80s, and '90s—they have this quirky, nostalgic charm that sparks all kinds of ideas. Flipping through family photo albums also takes me down memory lane, adding a personal touch to my work. Streetwear and fashion, especially graphic tees, have also caught my eye with their bold designs and messaging. Even while doom scrolling, I stumble upon inspiration—whether it's ads on social media or the odd aesthetic of vintage scratch 'n sniff stickers. It’s a strange mix, but all of these things come together to shape my creative process in fun and unexpected ways.
Collect Bean: How do you approach the balance between experimentation and consistency in your art?
Griffin Goodman: Experimentation is a huge part of my practice—I love pushing myself to try new mediums and stepping outside my comfort zone. Whether painting, sculpture, or installation, I let the concept guide the materials, which keeps things exciting and fresh. But consistency is just as important. My dedication to being in the studio and creating every day is the one constant. Over the past five years, my work has expanded into new realms, and that balance between exploration and discipline keeps my practice evolving in meaningful ways.
Collect Bean: If you had to describe your work in only three words, what would they be?
Griffin Goodman: Sugarcoated, Supernova, Recollection.
