Featured image: U.S.-Backed Coups and Regime Change, Cooper Ellenbogen, 2026, paint marker on canvas, 18 x 24 in. / 45.72 x 60.96 cm.
Cooper Ellenbogen creates politically charged artworks that examine the hidden structures, human costs, and environmental consequences of modern conflict.Â
Cooper Ellenbogen creates research-driven contemporary artworks exploring history, politics, war, environmental issues, and the overlooked narratives that shape society.
Combining hand-drawn diagrams, historical research, and expressive imagery, Ellenbogen transforms complex geopolitical subjects into visually compelling compositions that encourage viewers to question accepted narratives. In U.S. Proxy Wars, Air Quality Alert, and U.S.A. Hidden History, the artist explores warfare, environmental destruction, and overlooked historical events through a distinctive visual language that merges documentary information with contemporary art. Together, these works challenge audiences to confront uncomfortable realities while emphasizing the importance of historical awareness and critical inquiry.
U.S. Proxy Wars, Cooper Ellenbogen, 2026, paint markers on canvas, 18 x 24 in. / 45.72 x 60.96 cm.
U.S. Proxy Wars functions as both artwork and visual archive, mapping decades of international conflicts involving indirect military intervention. Handwritten text, symbols, timelines, and illustrations fill the canvas with dense layers of historical information, creating an experience that rewards prolonged viewing. The stark contrast between white and red markings against a black background evokes urgency, while the organized yet overwhelming layout reflects the complexity of geopolitical history. Rather than presenting a singular narrative, Ellenbogen encourages viewers to investigate patterns of intervention, ideology, and global power. The work transforms historical research into an engaging visual composition that blurs the line between education, activism, and contemporary conceptual art.
Air Quality Alert, Cooper Ellenbogen, 2026, pastel, 12 x 9 in. / 30.48 x 22.86 cm.
In Air Quality Alert, Ellenbogen shifts from historical documentation to environmental commentary through an image of a forest engulfed in flames. The vivid reds, oranges, and yellows communicate the destructive force of wildfire, while silhouetted trees stand as stark reminders of ecological vulnerability. Positioned across the burning landscape, the phrase "Air Quality Alert" resembles the familiar warnings issued during environmental emergencies, grounding the painting in contemporary experience. The contrast between expressive pastel mark-making and the clinical language of public alerts underscores the growing normalization of climate-related disasters. The work serves as both a warning and a reflection on humanity's increasingly fragile relationship with the natural world.
U.S.A. Hidden History, Cooper Ellenbogen, 2025, paint markers on canvas, 18 x 24 in. / 45.72 x 60.96 cm.
U.S.A. Hidden History presents a densely illustrated visual chronicle of overlooked events, social injustices, and political conflicts throughout American history. Covering the canvas with carefully drawn scenes, handwritten notes, and interconnected historical references, Ellenbogen constructs an expansive alternative narrative that invites closer examination. White illustrations emerge dramatically from the black background, while red text highlights significant events and themes, directing viewers through the composition's intricate network of information. Rather than offering definitive conclusions, the artwork encourages curiosity and independent investigation, emphasizing that history is often more layered and contested than conventional accounts suggest. Through its combination of research and artistic expression, the piece demonstrates how visual art can foster historical dialogue.
Across U.S. Proxy Wars, Air Quality Alert, and U.S.A. Hidden History, Cooper Ellenbogen demonstrates how contemporary art can function as both creative expression and critical investigation. His works combine historical research, political commentary, and striking visual design to encourage viewers to reconsider narratives surrounding war, environmental crises, and collective memory. By transforming complex subjects into immersive compositions filled with symbolism and information, Ellenbogen creates artworks that reward sustained engagement while prompting meaningful reflection. Together, these pieces affirm the power of art to educate, question, and inspire conversations about the forces shaping society.
U.S.A., Cooper Ellenbogen, 2025, pastel, 12 x 9 in. / 30.48 x 22.86 cm.