As a critic, I’m supposed to offer my unbiased opinion on a piece of media that I’ve been given. I’m supposed to set aside my own personal preferences and examine art – whether it be a cheesy 1980s TV series or an Oscar-winning modern classic – without letting my feelings interfere with my final verdict.

Well, I’m afraid I just can’t do that in this case.

Because, you see, I’ve been a fan of Luke Chueh’s artwork since my then-girlfriend-now-wife turned me on to it in 2005. She had seen his paintings online and instantly fell in love with them. I had a similar experience when she showed me his website, and I saw for the first time his unique style, motifs, and message.

Chueh’s art is almost always described using the same adjectives and phrases – “cute, but dark”, “adorable, but sad”, “funny, but deep” – and even though these have become cliché at this point, that doesn’t mean they aren’t true. Much of Chueh’s work features animals that look like costumed out-of-work actors on their way to a kid’s backyard birthday party, ready to snap a photo with a group of seven year-olds because it’s the only gig they can get.
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