Terry Urban: A Blending of Roots and Storytelling Terry Urban is a contemporary American artist whose work blends expressive intensity with symbolic storytelling. Born and raised in the industrial city of Cleveland, Ohio, Urban draws deeply from his blue-collar roots and personal history. His upbringing in an Irish American household, along with the influence of a Cherokee stepfather, shaped a worldview grounded in resilience, struggle, and a strong connection to the underdog. Themes and Artistic Style Urban’s paintings are marked by bold color, emotional contrast, and a recurring fascination with mortality. Working on canvas and wood, he explores the darker sides of the human experience with a visual language that feels both personal and mythic. .Skulls, bones, and fragmented figures populate his compositions, evoking themes of impermanence, vulnerability, and inner conflict Though often heavy in tone, his work carries an undercurrent of vitality, driven by a restless curiosity and a desire to confront what lies beneath the surface. The Artist's Vision At the heart of Urban’s practice is a desire to remain true to his origins while pushing the boundaries of how art can speak to the human condition. His exploration of life’s most enigmatic truths gives his art its emotional weight and distinctive voice creating a body of work that feels raw, immediate, and emotionally honest. See Urban's work in the Neon Range: Pop Visions of the New West Exhibition at West Chelsea Contemporary.