From crazy stunts to canvas

AFTER a lifetime performing stunts around the world – from swallowing swords to juggling operating chainsaws while riding a unicycle – Chayne Hultgren has switched gears to focus on his new passion for art.

Fascinated by the Guinness Book of World Records as a child, Hultgren began busking at Byron Bay Markets riding a unicycle, juggling and performing magic tricks when he was eight years old.

He went on to perform as The Space Cowboy in more than 40 countries and break 56 Guinness World Records.

They include the longest lightning bolt from human skin, for which he stood barefoot on his one-million-volt Tesla Coil and conducted the power through his body.

He also holds the record for the most speeding arrows caught with the bare hand while blindfolded (seven), and the most chainsaw juggling catches on a tall unicycle (10).

But when he found himself grounded with no performances during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hultgren found a new way to express himself when he started painting with his daughter.

“Painting became an extension of my creativity and a new way to push my own boundaries,” he said. “It allowed me to capture moments and ideas in a way that would last forever. I realized that art could have the same impact as a performance — it could connect, inspire and surprise people.”

The 46-year-old is now an in demand visual artist, with his bold and vibrant works exhibited and sent to collectors around the world.

“I can’t paint fast enough, and I paint fast!” he said. “I am loving my new career direction.

“I love mixing reality with the surreal, creating works that are fun, inspiring and thought-provoking. Many of my paintings also feature augmented reality animations that bring the artwork to life when viewed through a smartphone.”

Whether performing or sharing his art, Hultgren loves pushing boundaries.

“The creative process itself is deeply rewarding, whether it’s mastering a dangerous stunt or creating a new painting,” he said.

For more information, visit thespacecowboy.com