A Conversation with Surrealist Artist Adrian Cox: Exploring the Art of Not Knowing
Adrian Cox’s "The Well of Dreams" Exhibition Unveils Surrealist Exploration
On a Saturday afternoon in early March, art enthusiasts gathered at the Corey Helford Gallery in the Arts District to experience Adrian Cox’s fifth solo exhibition, titled “The Well of Dreams.” The event featured a free, one-hour creative wellness session and live performance entitled “The Ritual of Unknowing: A Surrealist Meditation Experience.”
“As a surrealist artist, I’m always looking for ways to engage with my subconscious mind and outmaneuver that logical part of my brain,” Cox shared. This journey began several years ago when he acquired a podcasting microphone and a MIDI keyboard, which he used to create DIY hypnosis tracks. “This guided meditation was the culmination of these efforts," he added, emphasizing how these tools helped him to explore imaginative landscapes and seek deeper symbols.
Guests were encouraged to bring yoga mats and pillows for a comfortable experience during the guided meditation. Cox aimed to induce a trance-like state, allowing attendees to navigate their imaginations as he had while preparing for the exhibition.
The narrative of Cox’s paintings revolves around a mythic world he calls the Borderlands, populated by beings he refers to as Border Creatures. These figures are depicted as both physically and spiritually intertwined with the landscapes they inhabit. “Each image is an exploratory step into a territory that exists at the threshold of the real and the imagined,” he explained.
Born and raised in Conyers, Georgia, Cox’s upbringing in a diverse family—his mother being a bisexual woman and his father a transgender woman—has significantly shaped his artistic vision. After obtaining an undergraduate degree in painting from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, he moved to Los Angeles in 2018. Drawing inspiration from art history, science fiction, and personal experiences, Cox has cultivated a unique artistic voice. Since debuting his first solo exhibition, “Terra Incognita,” in February 2018 at the same gallery, he has continued to showcase his evolving work.
“My work isn’t an allegory,” Cox remarked. “I aim for my images to convey multiple meanings rather than just reflecting my own biography. Growing up in my family taught me that identity could be explored freely, grounded in love and joy.”
“The Well of Dreams” narrates the journey of Maker, a sculptor who suffers a Cosmic Wound after being struck by a Specter’s arrow. Unable to heal traditionally, Maker’s friends, the Border Creatures, devise a ritual to guide him through the Labyrinth of Unknowing and into the dreamworld.
Cox describes his artistic practice as contemplative, encompassing a reflective quality that aligns with his spiritual exploration. “The need to be an artist is tied to self-reflection, not in a narcissistic way, but in a quest for deeper understanding,” he said.
“People connect with my work for various reasons,” he continued. “We experience the world through stories, and framing my works within a mythology allows for personal engagement. This connection can be both entertaining and contemplative."
Exhibition Details: “The Well of Dreams”
When: Through March 28, 2026; Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.
Where: Corey Helford Gallery, 571 S. Anderson Street, Los Angeles.
Contact: 310-287-2340.
