Balls deep in the street, 2010

Luke Yocum  

Luke grew up in an ultraconservative suburban home and community in rural Pennsylvania, USA.

He was diagnosed with Touretts Syndrome and Attention Deficit Disorder in 1993.  He started to paint as a form of therapy.

In the mid to late 90's Luke suffered from depression and heroin addiction while writing music and playing
rock with his grunge band.  

In 1999 Luke dropped out of high school and joined the U.S. Army seeking a better life. Unfortunately he did not find one in the service but benefited from the structure and discipline he gained in the military.

In 2005 Luke decided to become a full-time artist after seeing Cy Twombly's Apollo collection at the Philadelphia Museum.

Luke was discovered as a brilliant art talent in 2007 by Gallery directors Angela Di Bella and Robert Brooks in Chelsea, NY.  Articles in small and mainstream publications highlighting Yocum's untraditional stance on art and technique appeared throughout 2007 and 2008. Public interest in his artwork and seemingly "rough and tumble" attitude caught fire in the underground art world and began to appear in blogs and subterranean art world mags.

Bar fights and maniac moments on city streets in the USA and abroad have given the artist quite a reputation. A twisted trail of human wreckage and tragedy resides in his past.

Luke's works give viewers large, often painful glimpses into his life. Luke was not your typical village dwelling artist. He graduated the school of hard knocks, Luke created art that peered into his torn past, but also sent messages about political and social issues affecting the world.

Luke passed away in New Orleans in 2016 at 35.  He spent the last 17 years of his life living by the brush as an artist.

Luke was a great character and online buddy to Nick Moller who did his best to support Luke and his art.