I met Justin Hager about three years ago on a rooftop in New York City, when it was barely safe to go outside after vaccinations. Hager’s the kind of person you know is an artist the second you look at him–partly in his unrivaled fashion that feels effortlessly cool and has secured him collaborations with Collina Strada and Vans, but also in his somewhat quiet demeanor that makes you think he has a million thoughts running around in his head. These thoughts need to be put down somewhere, resulting in illustrations that have caught the eyes of Remi Wolf, FUCT, and Volcom, to name a few. The extension of his practice is now on view at WHAAM! gallery in NYC where Hager’s newest creation of works underline a common theme within his art: the profound beauty that resides in the rejected. I immediately fell in love with these pieces–the romanticism of ruffled bows in spackle and tulips painted mid-bloom, mixed amongst tattered books and scribbled letters. It’ll leave your heart beating like the end of a sweet rollercoaster ride, dizzy with excitement and ready for one more.
Shaquille Heath: Tell me how you came up with the name Roller Coaster for the title of the exhibition?
Justin Hager: At first I just liked how the word sounded. But then I thought it was a nice word play on the highs and lows of life, like a comedy tragedy of a fairy tale. I feel like the show is a ride of both heavy and light emotions.
These works have an incredibly beautiful white frame to them–can you tell me about that process and the inspirations?
The framework on the larger works are made from spackle that I caked onto the canvas and carved away with tools that I made myself. I wanted to present the larger paintings in a more beautiful way than I have in past shows, and I was inspired by the framework of renaissance paintings at museums. I like that the spackle has inconsistencies almost like when a landlord paints over the same piece of chipped molding lots of times. I think the flaws in the spackle are what makes it pretty and give the paintings more character.
I know you’re a self-taught artist–how do you approach new mediums and techniques?
It’s really just trial and error. I’m always trying to learn and grow, and trying out new supplies to see if I can figure them out is a nice practice for that. Lately I’ve been experimenting with oil, spackle, and molding pastes, and it’s been super fun learning how to blend oil and make 3d designs with the spackle and pastes. I worked with mostly acrylic and ink for so long, I wanted to almost start over and fall in love with painting again for this show, and learning how to paint with oil and the new textures really did that for me.
One of my favorite pieces is the “Turns Out I’m Still Alive” book–you have many books where you write these positive manifestations on them. How do you decide on what sayings to use?
I have a continuous list of ideas in my notes app that I’m adding to constantly, so each time I think a painting needs words I reference that. In the paintings where there’s more than one I try to have a mix of honest thought, comedy, a vulnerability, a feeling, a word I like, etc. I also like to keep the paintings open-ended so people can connect to them in their own way, and come up with their own interpretations of what the sayings mean to them.
There’s so many tulips throughout the work–I’m wondering what they signify for you?
I just found out that tulips symbolize deep love, which made me fall in love with them. Also they’re just really beautiful and fun to paint. And I think they add a lightness to the paintings.
Your subjects are often staring eye to eye with its viewer–I get the sense that they feel interrupted?
With the people, I just want them to look like they’re giving themselves to the viewer, to be whoever they want them to be. At the same time trying to convey a vulnerability, honesty, and an earnestness through the subject’s gaze, kind of disarming both the subject and the viewer. 
What’s one thing that you find beautiful that other people don’t? Have you made art about it?
I try to find the beauty in the mundane and ordinary. In New York City, if you’re open, the city just gives you little rewards. Random things you see just walking down the street like a broccoli shaped tree, a melted lollipop on the sidewalk, a doll on a window sill, other little things that people who aren’t looking won’t even notice or remember. But I’m constantly looking for inspiration, and New York, and the world in general, is filled with these little magical moments if you’re willing to seek them out. These things always find a way to creep into my paintings.
Do you ever think of your art as a form of rose colored glasses?
I’ve never really thought of them that way, but I guess I do try to find the positive side of most things. I’m not trying to sugar coat anything because I’m always looking for and trying to convey the truth. But they are pretty rosy and hopeful now that I think about it. I’m just trying to add more positivity, realness, and beauty into the world through my paintings.
Roller Coaster is on view at WHAAM! Gallery in New York City through August 3rd.
