By: Seth Johnson

As part of the live auction at this year’s Through the Looking Glass Gala on Saturday, Sept. 28, esteemed artist Gavin Goode will produce an exclusive live painting for attendees to bid on, in addition to various other live auction prize packages.

While he now has clientele that includes everyone from Mark Wahlberg to Snoop Dogg, Gavin Goode began his artistic journey as a young child learning from his father.

“My father is a very talented, self-taught artist who taught me how to draft things out correctly at a young age,” Goode says. “So from the time I was very young, I was always a little better than my art teachers at that age, and it really helped me get a leg up on things.”

Having graduated high school early in Louisville, Goode’s sense of duty led him to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, where he embarked on a deployment to Albania as a military police officer. During his service, Goode’s exceptional dedication and performance earned him meritorious promotions, including one to non-commissioned officer, and accolades such as two Naval Achievement Medals and outstanding conduct commendations.

Upon receiving an Honorable Discharge from the United States Marine Corps, Goode leveraged his GI Bill to pursue an education at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Tampa. During this time, Goode’s career as an actor blossomed, eventually landing him several noteworthy acting roles.

“I was a body double for someone in Elizabethtown, and then I ended up getting moved to being the body double for Orlando Bloom,” Goode says of his start in acting. “By the end of that movie, they had me set up to go do Walk the Line, Syriana, and xXx: State of the Union. So I just capitalized and ran with it.”

In 2006, Goode established SemperFly Studios, a fine art and design company that has garnered global recognition. In addition to Wahlberg and Snoop, Goode’s clientele now includes Usher, Michael Franzese, Evander Holyfield, and Fat Joe — just to name a few. Goode also now has a piece hanging in the National Gallery of Art. 

Reflecting on his growth as an artist, Goode says there’s been a gradual evolution to get him where he’s at now. 

“I started off as an interior designer and finisher with glazes and metallics,” Goode says. “And then, I slowly started moving into doing graphics. With having the background of being a charcoal artist, I bridged that gap into the painting. My style, no matter how much I fight it, is my own. It’s very hard to take my brain out of what I’m doing.”

In 2013, Goode tried live painting for the first time, donating the funds he raised to charity. Ever since then, he hasn’t looked back on doing these types of philanthropic events, which is eventually how he got in touch with Through the Looking Glass Gala co-chair Lindsey Jordan.

“You’re meeting a whole new group of people that you would’ve never met in a different city and in a different market, which opens doors for everything else,” Goode says. “Once I started getting called back for year two and year three, that’s when I started seeing pieces go for $20,000 to $40,000. Now, I do it on the biggest of stages.”

In reflecting on what he enjoys the most about live painting at philanthropic events, Goode explains how rewarding it is to use his talents for a meaningful cause. 

“I’ve really had some awakenings on the motivations behind working with these different charities,” Goode says. “Being able to go into a city without knowing anyone and raising a nice chunk of money for a children’s foundation or a veteran’s foundation is very rewarding. I’ve been able to tie something I like doing in with my actual career, and I’m having a fun time doing it.”

Goode recently had the opportunity to engage with high school students from Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired as part of an interactive painting workshop on Thursday, Sept. 19. After giving Mrs. Walsh’s class a proper introduction to himself, Goode helped the students lay the foundation for a painting that he will later finish live at IBCF’s 2024 Through the Looking Glass Gala. Upon finishing the piece, Goode will then auction the painting off, donating the proceeds to IBCF.

To learn more about Gavin Goode and his artwork, be sure to visit SemperFlyStudios.com.