Art Led the Way to a Very Hot, and Spicy First Date

New York Times

11-07-2025

David Brian Harris, who goes by Spooky Harris as an artist, was finishing up his latest project in March 2023 when he was spotted by Heather Johnson Phillips. He was in downtown Manhattan Beach, Calif., outside a spa under construction, covering floor-to-ceiling windows with self-care-themed words and images in ink on seamless paper.
'Oh my God, he's so cool,' said Ms. Phillips, 50, turning to her friend. 'I'm going to say 'hi.''
Mr. Harris, 52, whose work has appeared in galleries and shows in New York and Los Angeles, was in his work wear, a paint-splattered jean shirt and jeans, and an indigo-dyed scarf.
'I usually don't do this,' said Ms. Phillips, who had recently admired his work at the Right Tribe gallery-boutique nearby and on Instagram. 'I'm Heather.'
In the brief exchange, she came off as 'very stylish,' he said, in 'cool sunglasses, aviator, but Italian.'
In April, they chatted a bit more, laughed a lot, and exchanged numbers when she stopped by his studio, a garage in Redondo Beach, to pick up a 50th birthday gift for a friend — a black and white painting of a Swiss cheese in Sumi ink, which she had spotted on Instagram.
'You're fun,' texted Mr. Harris, then wanted to kick himself for being so forward.
But Ms. Phillips thought it was the perfect thing to say.
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