imps and monsters Who Are You?

imps and monsters Who Are You?24" x 30" acrylics on canvas. 2024. The Caterpillar and Alice looked at each other for some time in silence: at last the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth, and addressed her in a languid, sleepy voice. Who are you? said the Caterpillar. This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, II hardly know, sir, just at presentat least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been

24" x 30" acrylics on canvas. 2024.

The Caterpillar and Alice looked at each other for some time in silence: at last the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth, and addressed her in a languid, sleepy voice. “Who are you?” said the Caterpillar. This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, “I—I hardly know, sir, just at present—at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.” ~ Lewis Carroll, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” 1865)

This piece was created for Alice In Wonderland: A Space Opera, an art exhibition held in April 2024 at Monster—a fantastic shop in Ballard, Washington, that has carried my art longer than anywhere else, since 2007. The exhibition reimagined Alice’s adventures as a journey through time and space. It all began with a simple thought: What if Alice’s adventures took place far in the future, as she explored the universe on her own? I started sketching out ideas and soon invited a few friends—Mike Capp, Michael Gardner, Travis Torgerson, and my son, Calvin Hillgrove—to join me on this creative adventure.