A line stretched down Azusa Pacific University’s Duke Art Hallway as people eagerly awaited entrance to the L Gallery to see the work of Brandon Cooper ’26. Themed “Further Inspection,” Cooper’s senior art exhibition was comprised of eight pieces he had spent more than 100 hours creating, including Lacertalia, a giant lizard head with glowing orange eyes that revealed numerous smaller reptiles as you got closer, and Prehistoric, a dramatic inking of a roaring T-rex in a lightning storm reminiscent of a scene from Jurassic Park. As viewers moved through these pieces, they converged on Ex Nihilo, a huge seven-foot tall illustration of the world in God’s hands made up of dozens of small creatures in the shapes of Earth’s continents and oceans. As spectators craned in for a closer view of the artwork through mini magnifying glasses Cooper had provided, their eyes were drawn to a treasure-trove of meticulous hidden details. “I intentionally created this kind of open space that allows people to see details clearly, in hopes that they may in turn see hidden details in other aspects of their life,” Cooper said. “God created our world and the nature in it with so many intricacies, so much beauty and wonder. It’s amazing what God can show you when you’re willing to sit and listen.”
A senior art major with a design studies minor from Granada Hills, Cooper has always been creatively inclined and had natural talent for drawing and painting. However, it wasn’t until he took an AP art class in high school that he considered the possibility of becoming an artist, after receiving strong encouragement from his teacher. Spurred on by this, Cooper began experimenting with different styles, furthering his skillset for depth and details in artwork of animals because of the intricate textures of their scales, feathers, and fur. “At the end of the day, if you’re an artist, that’s what you want,” he said, “you want people to remember your work and to know your style.” Cooper chose to refine his artistic talent at APU.
Prior to his time at APU, Cooper had spent most of his time recreating existing characters. However, as he deepened in his art coursework at APU, his faculty encouraged him to make more original compositions. “They pushed me to step outside the box, to try new things, to find what I was good at and what I had the most room for growth in,” he said. “There are lots of avenues to make new things and I feel equipped to make different pieces than I did before.” Cooper explored different mediums from photography to ceramics and printmaking, receiving constructive criticism from his faculty, especially professor Stephen Childs, MFA. “Steve is awesome, so down to earth and always full of jokes. I admire and respect him for the amazing professor that he is, but he’s also just a friend I can chat with and bounce ideas off of,” Cooper said. “He shows you what to do and then gives you free reign, like ‘here’s your project, figure out the best way to get it done,’ which propels me forward.” In addition to faculty, Cooper is grateful to have formed close relationships with many members of his cohort. Instead of feeling like he’s competing against his classmates, Cooper enjoys receiving their feedback on his work.
Outside of his art classes, Cooper has loved working for APU Media Production. Over the past four years, he has learned the ins and outs of the production of shows and filming, including a highlight experience of doing handheld camera work at the Night at the Zu concert with Taya from Hillsong United. He’s also enjoyed the opportunity to share his art with other APU students at Art Department sales each semester, and has appreciated the opportunity to design The West Wind, APU’s literary journal. However, the most impactful extracurricular experience of Cooper’s time at APU happened just a month ago, when he traveled to Alaska on a Global Engagement trip with a group of students.
Although Cooper had desired to go on a mission trip with APU during his first three years, there was always one key obstacle—money. The upfront cost deterred him again and again, but when he saw that APU opened its first trip to Alaska, a place he had always wanted to visit, he prayed about it and received a clear answer from God. “I heard God saying, ‘You’ve always wanted to go, just go, I will provide a way,’” Cooper said. “I stepped out in faith and he provided more than I needed, as contributions from friends, family, and my church came in.” After arriving in Tok, a small town six hours inland from the nearest major city, Cooper and the team began ministering, serving the youth, creating murals, and helping with construction. Despite the -35ºF weather, Cooper’s heart was warmed by the joy of the children he encountered. “Many of the kids’ parents struggled with addiction and didn’t have enough money to pay for power and heat in their homes, but they still had huge smiles on their faces and were so generous,” he said. “I know people in sunny southern California who have a thousand times more in their lives but are half as grateful as these kids in frigid Alaska were.”
Faith is an integral part of Cooper’s life. Each time he picks up the pen to begin a new sketch, he is reminded of a powerful truth. “God is the original creator, and it’s awesome that He made us to be extremely creative too,” Cooper said. “I feel like when I’m able to be in that space of making things with a creative spirit, I’m doing what God made me to do.” As Cooper begins envisioning what life after APU will look like—including potential careers as an illustrator for major companies like Sony or Dreamworks, or working in film production as a side hustle to support himself while still making art independently—he knows his work will provide an avenue for him to share his faith. “When people see my pieces, it naturally leads to conversations about where I get my talent and inspiration from, and that’s an opportunity for me to share Jesus,” Cooper said. “Thinking a few years into the future, if I can be in a space where I’m doing what I love to do, if I’m able to reach people and show them my faith, and if I can get people excited to see my work to the point where they’re able to slow down and appreciate it—the details in my art and the beauty of the nature it's inspired by—that’s success to me.”