Hugo McCloud (b. Palo Alto, California, 1980) is a self-taught, globally recognized artist renowned for his experimental approach to large-scale paintings. Drawing on his background in industrial design, he blends unconventional materials like plastic bags and roofing materials with traditional techniques such as woodblock printing, pushing the boundaries of both material and method.

Over the course of his 15-year career, Hugo has held solo exhibitions at prestigious institutions, including The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut, The Arts Club in London, and Fondazione 107 in Turin, Italy. His work is held in the collections of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., the North Carolina Museum of Art, the Detroit Institute of the Arts, and The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse.

Join us in conversation with Hugo to explore his creative journey and the inspirations behind his work!

It was an honour to celebrate you at our Artist Lunch during Art Week in Miami. What are you working on now, and what can we expect in 2025?

Thank you so much for choosing me, It was a blessing to be around so many friends and beautiful souls for lunch. As of now, I am taking a bit of time in the studio to work through some ideas and resolve some directions within my practice. I think it's valuable to take moments to try and see through your work and connect with it.

We have been in conversation for a decade (Hugo was one of The Cultivist’s first studio visits in 2015) so we’ve really been able to watch your career and your evolving use of materials and outcomes. Your recent project, The Porter Collection, puts your practice into another category and showcases your innovative approach to recycling plastic into designer bags. What did you seek to achieve with this project?

The Porter bag was a fun project, I’ve collected the scraps of my materials for all these years and wanted to do something functional with it. The Porter bag is like a usable illustration of my paintings. Just in a bit more refined manner. Making these bags forced me to learn the process of new industries that are material-based but not directly related to my practice of making art. Garment production, fabric market, jewellery casting, etc. It was interesting seeing and participating in a new endeavour.

In Elephant Magazine, you spoke about avoiding being defined solely as a Black artist and valuing creative freedom. How do you balance societal expectations with your desire to create beyond labels?

I think my practice and journey over all these years clearly show my lack of interest in being labelled or pigeonholed in a box. Creating should always evolve. I believe in discipline, yes but the freedom to move in and out of directions should be the decision of the artist, not the viewer. I believe there is an agreement that I except the response good and bad from the viewer. At the end staying true to my path is what’s important.

How has your travel to different countries like Mexico, Africa and Southeast Asia influenced your subjects and colour palette?

I love to travel to new places, I love experiencing the diversity and vastness of cultures. What I love most about travelling and what inspires me truly is just seeing how the normal daily things in life are done differently from one place to another. Though we are different we are the same.

As a self-taught artist, what advice would you give to those deciding between formal training and an independent path?

My advice is simple, follow the path that your heart “mind” tells you is your direction. But when you follow that path, discipline yourself and commit to it.

Are there any emerging artists you’re particularly drawn to?

There are several but I’m really liking the direction, use of materials, and sculptural elements that the artist Reginald Sylvester is using at the moment. I appreciate his work. It’s tapping into the Art Povera movement to me. It is a time of art making that I personally gravitate towards, both in its time, meanings, and use of materials.