Nicholas Ridiculous

what are you doing here *

— GROW UP Series

Mixed Media on Canvas · 20 x 16 in

A stark, emotionally charged tribute to BoJack Horseman, this piece captures the hollow stare and uncomfortable self-awareness that defined a generation of adult animation.

Part of the GROW UP series, this painting explores what happens when nostalgia stops being comforting and starts asking questions. The repeated “X” pattern creates a suffocating backdrop — a visual loop of mistakes, habits, and self-sabotage — while the handwritten phrase, “What are you doing here…”, hangs like an accusation or a plea.

Rendered in mixed media, the work balances soft washes with raw linework and textured repetition. The cigarette, the distant eyes, the rigid symmetry — all push the character beyond satire and into something painfully human. This isn’t just a pop culture reference; it’s a reflection of adulthood, burnout, ego, and the search for meaning after the applause fades.

This is nostalgia grown tired.
This is the afterparty.

available // 🐴✨