Hunter Harvey (b. 1989 in Peoria, Illinois) earned his BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2012) and his MFA from the University of Chicago (2015). Desire, connection and love are central themes in Harvey’s work, while often referencing American popular culture, namely the Flintstones and Smokey the Bear. Through painting these characters into a vibrant queer universe, Harvey imagines a version of America that could be. He currently lives and works in downtown Los Angeles where he pulls inspiration from the landscape of southern California.