above: Rowayton artist W. Justin Cox in his studio.
From corporate consultant to abstract painter, Justin W. Cox is Rowayton’s answer to a modern-day Renaissance man
The iconic Andy Warhol once said, “Fashion is more art than art is.” No one has lived this life perhaps more literally than Justin W. Cox. A current resident of Rowayton, Cox grew up in New Jersey and spent his summers and school vacations helping at a retail clothing store owned by his parents. “Dad was a salesman; mom ran the back office, and my two grandfathers worked in shipping and receiving,” Cox explains. “We did everything: assisted customers, changed lightbulbs, vacuumed and helped trim the windows with the stylist my dad hired.”
When he wasn’t working for the family business, Cox was the drummer for a band called Hyperactive. His describes his post-high school years as “doing the Jersey circuit of lifeguard by day and playing ska-punk music by night.” While other ’80s kids were smoking cigarettes and drinking wine coolers with Bon Jovi and The Police playing in the background, Cox’s younger days were informed by bands such as The Jam, Joe Jackson and The English Beat. “I absolutely loved playing in a band and the feeling of being creative. I also loved art—being in art class was like freedom to me,” he says.
During one of his Jersey Shore summers, Cox’s brother Chris—who worked at Tommy Hilfiger—asked him to come in and help mock-up some design boards. The next day, Justin met Hilfiger, and began a career in global fashion and showroom styling that would last for more than 25 years. “I started off doing product sketches and organizing samples. A year later, I met the showroom guys on 39th Street and started working with them as a designer,” he recalls. “Styling showrooms helped me build on what I learned growing up: making environments surrounding the product look attractive, blending colors, mixing textures and adding artwork to elevate a space.” The art facet of the job really resonated with Cox as he continued managing showrooms at a senior VP level, then working events in a creative services and marketing role for Tommy Hilfiger. “Any event in the U.S., any U.S. showroom, all of Tommy’s personal events were my responsibility. I also styled his home for personal appearances,” he says.
Cox moved to Rowayton in 2018, put paintbrush to paper and fell in love with being on the water. “The water has always played an important role in my life and art,” he says. “I grew up going to the Jersey Shore and Long Beach Island, and I love the energy water brings, and the visual way it moves—which is reflected in many of my works.” His works are abstract and characterized by giant arcs and swoops, bold strokes and curves—striking because of the way he mixes unexpected colors. “I often associate music as having some sort of color, the whole punk rock thing with bands like Bad Brains and Fishbone,” Cox explains. “There’s something to the intensity and pace of this music that relates to the quick movements I use in my paintings.”
A dramatic wave has become his signature image, though clients have taken the nautical theme up a notch—asking for narwhals, whales and whale tails. He has also embellished skateboards, surfboards, created a line of greeting cards and completed a collection of dog portraits for customers.
“The dog requests were interesting. I love challenge and capturing an object in my own style,” he says. The confluence of creative director in the business world and artist living by the sea is what makes him an anomaly. In 2023, he was commissioned by an executive at Tommy Bahama to paint a marlin “in his own way” that would grace hoodies, shirts and bathing suits of the famous lifestyle brand.
While Cox prefers working primarily in acrylic on canvas, paper and wood panel—and is drawn to vibrant color—he’s recently dabbled in charcoal and graphite neutrals. His works grace many local homes and businesses, such as Henry Lehr in Westport, UCBC in New Canaan, as well as Tommy Hilfiger stores in Hong Kong, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Düsseldorf. He’s also garnered partnerships with corporate giants like The Gap.
Much of his success, however, he credits to his local community. His first forays into art began by posting on Instagram and asking local businesses—like the Rowayton Wine Shop—if he could hang his work, hoping for people to notice. Since then, he has hosted gatherings at UCBC in Darien, participated in an Art Walk in Rowayton and hosted two receptions at Brendan’s 101. “I’m so grateful for all the encouragement,” he says.
When asked what inspires him, Cox notes that, “My kids motivate me daily, and music and the water remain the primary inspiration for my art.” His Heart series, a collaboration with his daughter “V,” for example, was made for a special father/daughter memory. Old surf movies, drone footage of monster waves and the music of his youth are other motivational forces that fuel his creativity.
What’s next for this shoreline artist? He’s tackling a giant installation for a law firm in New York City’s prestigious 30 Rock building. “With this four-floor project, I’ll be mixing in photography with my acrylics, and the format will be different from anything I’ve done before,” he says excitedly. While focusing on his art, you can still find Cox doing freelance creative work—styling and overseeing showrooms and installations for names like David Donahue, Calvin Klein and O5 Apparel.
Cox’s works start at $800. For more information, visit him at justinwcox.com or on Insta @justinwcox_paintings.
