David Choe

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

David Choe

Role / Field:

American artist known for raw, frenetic 'dirty style' paintings exploring desire and degradation.

Born:

1976-04-21

Century / Era:

1976s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

David Choe (born April 22, 1976) is an American artist, actor, journalist, and podcast host from Los Angeles. Choe's work appears in a wide variety of urban culture and entertainment contexts. He has illustrated and written for magazines including Hustler, Ray Gun, and Vice. He has an ongoing relationship with the Asian pop culture website, store, and former magazine Giant Robot. Choe's figurative paintings, which explore themes of desire, degradation, and exaltation, are characterized by a raw, frenetic method that he has termed "dirty style".

Career & Major Achievements

Choe was born in Los Angeles, California. His parents are Korean immigrants and born-again Christians. He spent his childhood in Koreatown, Los Angeles. He has been spray-painting on the streets since he was in his teens. He briefly attended the California College of the Arts.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1996, Choe self-published a graphic novel, Slow Jams. In 1999, he submitted Slow Jams for the Xeric Grant and was awarded $5,000 to self-publish a second, expanded edition of 1,000, which came out in 1999. In 2005, internet entrepreneur Sean Parker, a longtime fan, asked him to paint graphic sexual murals in the interior of Facebook's first Silicon Valley office, and in 2007, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg commissioned him to paint somewhat tamer murals for its next office. Although he thought the Facebook business model was "ridiculous and pointless", Choe chose to receive company stock in lieu of cash payment for his original murals. His shares were valued at approximately $200 million on the eve of Facebook's 2012 IPO.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1976 (1976-04-21): Birth of David Choe — American artist known for raw, frenetic 'dirty style' paintings exploring desire and degradation.
2. 1996: 1996 Milestone — In 1996, Choe self-published a graphic novel, Slow Jams.
3. 1999: 1999 Milestone — In 1999, he submitted Slow Jams for the Xeric Grant and was awarded $5,000 to self-publish a second, expanded edition of 1,000, which came out in 1999.
4. 2005: 2005 Milestone — In 2005, internet entrepreneur Sean Parker, a longtime fan, asked him to paint graphic sexual murals in the interior of Facebook's first Silicon Valley office, and in 2007, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg commissioned him to paint somewhat tamer murals for its next office.
5. 2012: 2012 Milestone — His shares were valued at approximately $200 million on the eve of Facebook's 2012 IPO.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: David Choe

True or False: “David Choe was commissioned to paint murals in the first Silicon Valley office of Facebook, which occurred before its 2012 IPO.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The text confirms he painted for the original office and received company stock valued at approximately $200 million on the eve of the 2012 IPO.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A Day at the Races (album) — Contemporary (Born in 1976) (1976): Queen's fifth studio album, a companion piece to A Night at the Opera.
• Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani — Contemporary (Died in 1976) (1976): Bangladeshi statesman and founder of the Awami League, known for advocating for the poor.
• Abiy Ahmed — Contemporary (Born in 1976) (1976): Ethiopian Prime Minister known for sweeping reforms and Nobel Peace Prize.
• Alistair MacLean — Shared historical date (04-21 · Born) (1922): Scottish novelist celebrated for popular thrillers, adventure stories, and wartime sagas.
• Andie MacDowell — Shared historical date (04-21 · Born) (1958): Acclaimed American actress and model known for romantic and dramatic roles.
• Adam Beyer — Historical peer (Born in 1976) (1976): Pioneering Swedish techno producer and DJ, known for founding Drumcode Records.
• Adolph Zukor — Historical peer (Died in 1976) (1976): Pioneering Hungarian-American film producer, co-founder of Paramount Pictures.
• 6ix9ine — Historical peer (Born in 1996) (1996): American rapper known for aggressive style and controversial public persona.
• A'ja Wilson — Historical peer (Born in 1996) (1996): Elite American WNBA star known for multiple MVP awards and championship success.
• Akhtar Hameed Khan — Historical peer (Died in 1999) (1999): Pioneering Pakistani social scientist and development practitioner.
• 1976 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1976
• April 21 (04-21) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 21

Frequently Asked Questions about David Choe