Ayin Es

Ayin Es (they/them), an artist based in Joshua Tree, California, has a special affinity for existentialism, surreal abstraction, and absurdity. They work in various media, including drawing, watercolors, oils, collage, installation, and book arts, and rely on introspection instead of rules. This process is informed by stream-of-consciousness writings and readings in philosophy and psychology, and experimenting on themes that develop into obsessive series.

Es is known for storytelling artwork and artist’s books, which have been collected by institutions such as the Getty, the Brooklyn Museum, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. They were a 2024 competition winner in New American Paintings, and have won a Pollock-Krasner Fellowship.

CV

Before the Tragedy, 2026
oil on gessobord
24 x 24"

Tourists, 2025
oil on canvas
16 x 20"

Sucker, 2025
oil on canvas
20 x 16"
framed

Disorderly Conduct, 2022
oil on gessobord
16 x 20"

Golden Child, 2025
oil on birchwood
20 x 20"

Beguiling for Dollars, 2025
watercolor and ink on Arches paper
30 x 24 1/2"
framed

Turtle House, 2017
Oil on gessoboard
20 x 24"

Cool-ass Crib, 2021
watercolor on Arches
22.5 x 30 in

Buried Ruins, 2022
oil on gessoboard
24 x 24 in

Ladder to Dad, 2014
oil on canvas
40 x 60”

A Dangerous Frisbee Cake, 2026
oil on birchwood
16 x 20"

Check the Pulse, 2023
oil on gessobord
16 x 16"

Shabbos Dinner Abandon, 2023
oil on panel
24 x 24"

West Valley Fiction, 2025
oil on birchwood
24 x 24"

King Baby (triptych), 2023
oil on birchwood
23 x 29 1/2"

Willow Meets Quail, 2022
oil on canvas
16 x 20

Space Rabbit Ranch, 2014
oil on canvas
16 x 20 in

Drum Lab , 2015
oil on gessoboard
24 x 30 in

Landwalker, 2021
watercolor on arches
7 x 10"

Rainbow Connection , 2021
watercolor on arches
7 x 10"

Judgy, 2025
gouache and ink on Rives BFK paper
30 x 22 1/2"
framed

What Love, 2025
oil on canvas
30 x 24"

Intermittent Gratification, 2025
oil on birchwood
24 x 30"

Young Exemplaries, 2025
watercolor and ink on Arches paper
16 x 20"
framed

First Born, 2025
watercolor and ink on Arches paper
12 x 16"
framed

Somewhere Up South I, 2022
watercolor on Arches
9 x 12 in

Stone's Throw, 2019
watercolor on Arches
22.5 x 30"

Noah's Chairs , 2014
oil on canvas
16 x 20 in

Sequestered, 2020
watercolor on arches
23.5 x 30”

Landscape Study 1, 2021
Watercolor and colored pencil on Arches
6 x 9"

Encino Trike, 2019
watercolor and ink on Thomas Bros. map page
8 x 9"

Two Bunnies with a Grassy Bear Balloon, 2005
acrylic, ink, and pencil on Thomas Bros. map
8 x 9"

San Fernando Valley Swingset, 2019
watercolor and ink on Thomas Bros. map page
8 x 9"

Fort Anything, 2019
oil, pattern paper, thread on sewn cnavas
24 x 30”

Gabba, 2005
oil, pencil, and garment patterns sewn on canvas
30 x 30"

In Training, 2013
oil on birch panel
24 x 24”

I am the Thinking Chair, 2019
oil on canvas
24 x 24"

Perpetrators, 2015
oil on canvas
36 x 36"

Ruminant Walk About, 2012
Oil on linen,
20 x 20”

Transmission II, 2011
Mixed media oil, paper, thread, and pencil on canvas
29 x 38”

Sky House, 2014
mixed media on birch wood
20 x 20"

Buzzards Roost, 2015
oil, paper and fabric on birch wood panel
24 x 24”

Cheap-ass Chex Mix , 2008
watercolor and pencil on American Way book page
8.5 x 5.5"

Slop Rocks , 2021
oil on canvas
20 x 16"

Don’t Wait Up, 2012
oil on birch panel
12 x 12"

Runaway Box, 2012
oil on birch panel
20 x 20”

In My Dreams, 2013
oil on linen
30 x 30”

 

The Adequacy of And and Not, 2012
oil on canvas
34 x 34”

Held by Sheer Willingness, 2012
oil on linen
20 x 20“

3 Mile Road, 2015
oil, paper and fabric on birch wood panel
16 x 20”

Homestead for the Clown, 2014
Mixed media on birch wood
9 x 12”

Portico, 2014
mixed media on birch wood
20 x 20"

Helicopter Pants, 2014
oil and pencil on birch panel
11 x 14"

Watch How I Wrangle, 2019
oil on canvas
34 x 34"

The Notion of Ambiguity Must not be Confused with that of Absurdity, 2012
oil and pencil on clay board,
16 x 12”

 

Dust House, 2015
oil, fabric, paper on birch panel
14 x 14”

Quarters, 2014
mixed media on birch panel
20 x 20”

Sierra, 2015
Mixed media on birch wood
12 x 12”

Mt. Candy, 2015
oil, fabric, paper on birch panel
14 x 14”

Baseline, 2015
Mixed media on birch wood
10 x 10”

Flintlock Terrace, 2015
oil, paper and fabric on birch wood panel
18 x 24”

Foothill, 2015
Oil, paper and fabric on birch wood panel,
10 x 10”

Pipes Canyon Trailer, 2022
gouache and ink on Thomas Bros. map
8 x 9"

Purple Trailer, 2022
gouache and ink on Thomas Bros. map
8 x 9"

Yucca Valley Lime Trailer, 2022
gouache and ink on Thomas Bros. map
8 x 9"

Bomber Trailer, 2022
gouache and ink on Thomas Bros. map
8 x 9"

Joshua Tree Baby Blue Trailer, 2022
gouache and ink on Thomas Bros. map
8 x 9"

Green Trailer, 2022
gouache and ink on Thomas Bros. map
8 x 9"

Gray Trailer, 2022
gouache and ink on Thomas Bros. map
8 x 9"

Very Green Trailer, 2022
gouache and ink on Thomas Bros. map
8 x 9"

Pinkish Trailer, 2022
gouache and ink on Thomas Bros. map
8 x 9"

Morongo Valley Blue Trailer, 2022
gouache and ink on Thomas Bros. map
8 x 9"

Desert Life One Day, 2019
pen and pencil on hand-cut manila garment pattern
5 x 9”

Long Flight to Israel, 2019
pen and pencil on hand-cut manila garment pattern
13 x 13”

Section 8 O.K, 2019
pen and pencil on hand-cut manila garment pattern
4 x 16”

Fancied up, 2019
pen and pencil on hand-cut manila garment pattern
4.5 x 4.5”

3 Girls, 2008
pen and pencil on hand-cut manila garment pattern
4 x 3”

Rabbit House, 2022
oil on gessoboard
16 x 20 in

Upside Down Trailer, 2016
Watercolor and ink on Thomas Bros. map page,
8 x 9"

Round House, 2015
oil, paper and fabric on birch wood panel
36 x 36”

The Good Life, 2016
Oil, paper and fabric on gessoboard
24 x 30"

One Eared Bunny, 2010
pen and pencil on hand-cut manila garment pattern
10 x 4”

Unexpected, 2014
Oil on gessoboard
20 x 24"

Morongo Valley Trailer, , 2016
Watercolor and ink on Thomas Bros. map page,
8 x 9"

Runaway Slinkies, 2014
mixed media on raw canvas
12 x 12”

Above Sunburst, 2021
oil on canvas
16 x 20 in

Sew, 2019
pen and pencil on hand-cut manila garment pattern
4 x 5”

Stop Apologizing for Who You Are 2006
pen and pencil on hand-cut manila garment pattern
3 x 3.5”

Cabin Heat, 2014
watercolor on arches
20 x 24”

Aberdeen Trailer, 2016
Watercolor and ink on Thomas Bros. map page,
8 x 9"

Sleep Lander, 2012
mixed media on birch wood
10 x 10"

Somewhere Up South II, 2022
watercolor on Arches
9 x 12 in

West of Sunset, 2022
oil on canvas
30 x 24 in

Worm Family Home, 2022
watercolor on Arches
22.5 x 30 in

Landers Trailer, 2016
Watercolor and ink on Thomas Bros. map page,
8 x 9"

Keys Ranch, 2014
oil, pattern paper, pencil and thread sewn on canvas
24 x 24”

Aqua-colored Trailer, 2022
gouache and ink on Thomas Bros. map
8 x 9"

JT Trailer on Wood Block, 2022
gouache and ink on Thomas Bros. map
8 x 9"

Installation shot of patterns

Installation

Installation