Painter Hilary Harkness Blends Fantastical and Historical in Captivating Canvases

The artist's maximalist, hyperrealist paintings explore themes of power, sexuality, and humanity's contradictions.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Hilary Harkness is an acclaimed painter known for her densely packed, fantastical canvases that blend historical elements with over-the-top, imaginative scenes. Growing up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Harkness was drawn to the detailed worlds of illustrator Richard Scarry and the dramatic impact of a tornado tearing open a department store. After initially studying pre-med at UC Berkeley, Harkness switched to painting, developing a style that depicts humanity in all its "rollicking riot and contradiction." Her cross-section paintings of World War II battleships reveal gender-neutral and queer orgies, while her series on Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas explores the psychological truths behind their iconic relationship. Harkness balances the fantastical with historical research, aiming to ask questions and engage with perspectives beyond her own experience as a white artist.

Why it matters

Harkness's paintings offer a unique and thought-provoking lens on history, sexuality, and the human condition. By blending recognizable elements with imaginative, over-the-top scenarios, she lures viewers into her intricate, multilayered worlds, challenging them to confront uncomfortable truths about power, hubris, and the complexities of the human experience. Her work has been praised for its technical mastery and its ability to illuminate overlooked narratives, making her a significant voice in contemporary art.

The details

Harkness's canvases are characterized by a maximalist, hyperrealist approach that packs a vast density of information into stunningly small surfaces. Her cross-section paintings of World War II battleships, for example, reveal gender-neutral and queer orgies taking place amid the chaos of war, while her series on Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas exposes the psychological truths behind their iconic relationship. Harkness balances these fantastical elements with meticulous historical research, aiming to ask questions and engage with perspectives beyond her own experience as a white artist.

  • Harkness received her BA from the University of California (UC), Berkeley, and her MFA from Yale University.
  • Her work has been featured in exhibitions at the FLAG Art Foundation and the Academy of Arts and Letters in New York; Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art in Oregon, and the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art in Ridgefield, Connecticut, among others.
  • Harkness is represented by PPOW Gallery in New York.

The players

Hilary Harkness

An acclaimed painter known for her densely packed, fantastical canvases that blend historical elements with over-the-top, imaginative scenes.

Richard Scarry

An illustrator whose detailed, imaginative worlds of Busytown inspired Harkness as a child.

Gertrude Stein

A renowned American writer whose relationship with Alice B. Toklas has been the subject of Harkness's paintings.

Alice B. Toklas

The life partner of Gertrude Stein, whose psychological truths Harkness aims to explore in her paintings.

Ara Tucker

Harkness's wife, whose life experience and perspective has informed the Arabella Freeman series.

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What they’re saying

“If paint doesn't feel good coming off the brush, you pretty much have nothing.”

— Hilary Harkness, Artist (Hyperallergic)

“My art is not about what I 100% know. It's more about asking questions, engaging, and trying to relate to people and understand the world.”

— Hilary Harkness, Artist (Hyperallergic)

What’s next

Harkness is currently working on an extension of her Arabella Freeman series, using friends who are artists as models, including Moses Leonardo and Alannah Farrell.

The takeaway

Hilary Harkness's captivating paintings blend fantastical, imaginative elements with meticulous historical research, challenging viewers to confront the complexities of power, sexuality, and the human condition. Her work offers a unique perspective that illuminates overlooked narratives and demonstrates the enduring power of art to engage with the world in meaningful and thought-provoking ways.