By: Elena Mart
Ludvig Gulhane, a 14-year-old Australian artist, has thousands of social media followers. He routinely juggles school, brand collaborations and commissions of his hyperrealistic art. This article explores what prompted young Ludvig to pursue his creative journey, leading him to resounding commercial success as an artist.
Gulhane began posting his art on his Instagram page, LGXstudio, last year. In that first year, LGXstudio transitioned through different artistic techniques, beginning with doodles and finally settling on hyperrealistic art. For LGXstudio, hyperrealism is not merely an art form but a movement to challenge an existing artistic style that remains fairly monopolized by older artists.
Age, Ludvig purports, is no match for passion and dedication. “As I progressed from doodling to exploring other styles, I felt the most challenged by the hyperrealistic aspect of art. Even more so when I realized that artists my age were not attempting hyperrealism. I wanted to change that.”
Ludvig’s passion for sharing his art with the world culminated across his social media pages, LGXstudio. As the page grew, he found himself engaging in meaningful conversations with like-minded people in his DMs. Then, at only a couple of hundred followers, he received his first commission.
The most exciting commission he has done until now was a wedding gift for one of his follower’s friends. “It was a privilege and an honor to be trusted so highly and to be such an intimate part of someone’s life. More personally, the recognition it afforded me and my work was reassuring, to say the least. I felt proud that my work had such a special place in people’s hearts.”
While he began his hyperrealistic art journey by drawing the living, CJ Henry’s work inspired him to explore inanimate objects. “I was captivated by how she captured seemingly simple entities with an insane amount of attention to detail, bringing them to life. It seemed challenging, and as I’ve always seen art as limitless, it was a challenge I wanted to embrace. What began as an exploration and a challenge became my ultimate passion. I was hooked.”
Photo Courtesy: Ludvig Gulhane
He felt impassioned to explore often overlooked items in his surroundings. “My art takes a lot of inspiration from my surroundings, ranging from nature to commercial products. One of my recent drawings was of a pea pod. It sounds simple, doesn’t it? Yet, behind this simplicity hides many layers of complexity. Getting the shading just right takes days to make it look real.”
As the commissions and follower count grew, brands approached Ludvig for collaborations. His first collaboration was with Aleph, a cosmetics company, doing artwork for their most famous products. “Working with such a large brand was exciting, especially the work I created for them and displayed to a larger audience. At the end of the day, showcasing my art to others, especially in hopes of encouraging other younger artists like myself, is at the core of my ethos.”
Currently, he is collaborating with Zelania Skincare, helping them add a creative edge to their marketing by introducing hyperrealistic artwork of their bestsellers.
As much as he loves sharing his art, his artistic exploration has a greater social purpose. He explains that art is a space devoid of social and cultural chokeholds; rather, it is a canvas that gives the artist the freedom to touch the skies. Emulating this metaphor in life, he has supported many charities by donating his pieces. His favorite was participating in an art charity held by the largest Australian animal welfare organization, RSPCA, for which he drew portraits of people’s pets. The money raised through these portraits allowed the charity to shelter strays. “Even though it was exhausting, five artworks within a week, the experience reaffirmed my belief in the power of art. Working with other artists for the same cause felt like we were part of something bigger, and seeing the owners’ reactions to the paintings was heart-warming.”
Ludvig has a message for those looking to explore art. “I started with not that many materials or artistic resources. I love a challenge; things like lacking materials or resources don’t matter if you’re truly passionate. Be creative and find ways to pursue your desire. If I can do it, so can you.”
Art is not just a hobby for Ludvig, “for it has the power to enact change, forge relationships, and express ourselves. Without art, our lives would be colorless.”
Ultimately, he hopes to show the world that “age doesn’t have to be an obstacle to mastering something.”
Website: https://www.lgxstudio.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lgxstudio/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lgx_studio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LgxStudio
Published by: Holy Minoza
