We sit down with British artist King Overman, whose life-size portraits have found their way into the collection of film legend Spike Lee. He talks process, instinct and the classical influences behind his Hardwood Army series.



What does life-size scale bring to your process?

Making portraits at life-size gives me a sense of reality that wouldn’t occur otherwise. It feels like creating a presence, not just an artwork. Adding eye contact enhances this further. With the life-size giants, this becomes even more impactful.

You cite the Terracotta Army as an inspiration, what drew you to that?

I arrived at the Hardwood Army name two years into the life-size series. I’d known about the Terracotta Army in China for years, but in 2023 I saw links with my art - the stances, powerful figures and legacy. Plus many of my portraits I’d done were in military uniform, including basketball
icons Dennis Rodman, Allen Iverson and Steph Curry. I’m fascinated by combat, I’ve painted many boxers and wrestlers too. So I swapped Terracotta for Hardwood and the name stuck.

Your work has found its way into some notable collections. What's that meant to you?

It has felt quite bizarre to be honest. I didn’t expect a collector like Spike Lee so early on, or my pieces at Brooklyn Museum. But the one thing these things have given me is validation. It fuels me to keep going. And as all artists know, it’s a solitary life and motivation is essential.

You’ve mostly chosen to avoid action poses for your athletes. Why is this?

I want the subjects to have real presence, so having them static and front on is best. I avoid foreshortening and side-on poses, as attempting three-dimensional space on a flat surface erodes the sense of reality I’m after.

Also I want to highlight the person and their character- not an activity they are known for. To give them the same treatment as classical portraits of politicians and royalty. Just with my own modern twist.



How do you select which people to paint?

Mostly instinct. Why some people interest me and others don’t, I’d have to delve into my psyche for answers. Height plays a factor, I’m intrigued by seven footers because of their scale. I’m also drawn to cult and controversial figures just as much as people associated with greatness.

What do you hope viewers will ultimately feel when standing face to face with one of your Hardwood Army pieces?

For the bold colours and scale to hit people immediately. Then I want them to feel the eyes and human presence of the portrait. Personally, I feel closer to a graffiti writer than a contemporary artist- it's the visual impact that matters most. The classical references are there if you want to dig into them, but you don’t need my words to connect with the work.

King Overman on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/king.overman/