Alex Venezia (b. 1993, Virginia Beach, VA) is a representational oil painter currently living and working in Old Lyme, Connecticut.
Drawn to drawing from a young age, Alex’s path toward painting sharpened in high school, where a lesson on Caravaggio's tenebrism, paired with a classroom poster of Waterhouse’s The Lady of Shalott, ignited a fascination with oil painting’s emotional depth and narrative power.
Largely self-taught, Alex sought out mentorship from a range of artists across traditions and disciplines, forging a personal approach rooted in observation but open to evolving. His process has developed from straightforward transcription to a more inventive, compositional practice.
Recurring through his work is a quiet sense of nostalgia, healing, and hope, a search for images that are at once emotionally resonant and compositionally refined.
Now based at the historic Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, where he teaches figure and portrait painting, Alex works from a north-lit studio that has subtly shaped the character of his recent work. He is represented by Arcadia Contemporary in New York City, and his paintings have received numerous national awards, including multiple first-place prizes from The Portrait Society of America. His work is held in private and public collections, including the New Salem Museum.
Selected Exhibitions
· Solo-Exhibition : Arcadia Contemporary
“Forever Ago” March 2025. NYC, NY.
· New Salem Museum : Director's Exhibition - October 2024
· Salmagundi Club : 3rd Annual Hartley Invitational - May 2024
· Arcadia Contemporary : LA ART SHOW - February 2023
· Arcadia Contemporary : LA ART SHOW - January 2022
· Solo-Exhibition : Arcadia Contemporary
“Beyond The Fence” November - December 2021. NYC, NY.
· Solo-Exhibition : Arcadia Contemporary
“Sentimental Works” September - October 2019. Pasadena, CA.
· Arcadia Contemporary : LA ART SHOW - January 2019
· Arcadia Contemporary : TEXAS CONTEMPORARY - Art Fair - George R. Brown Convention Center : Houston TX . October 2018
· Arcadia Contemporary : "FIVE AND UNDER" - Group Exhibition - Pasadena, CA. August 2018
· Maxwell Alexander Gallery : "Small Works" - Group Exhibition - Los Angeles, CA. July 2018
· Collins Galleries : "Summer Salon" - Group Exhibition - Orleans, MA. July 2018
· Arcadia Contemporary : "Americans In Paris" - Group Exhibition - Pasadena, CA. May 2018
· Eleventh Street Arts : "XII" - Group Exhibition - Queens, NY. July 2017
· Collins Galleries : "SUMMER SALON" - Group Exhibition - Orleans, MA. July 2017
· Principle Gallery "Root To Bloom": Group Exhibition - Alexandria, VA. November 2016
· Solo show at Dacia Gallery, “LONGING” -New York City. October 2016
· 670 Gallery “Without Hope/Without Fear” 3 Man Show, June 2016. Hampton VA
· Abend Gallery’s Miniatures Show 2015-2016
· Virginia Artists Exhibition, Juried Exhibition at the Charles H. Taylor Art Center, Hampton, VA – 2015
· Virginia Artists Exhibition, Juried Exhibition at the Charles H. Taylor Art Center, Hampton, VA – 2014
· Eyes Wide Open, Juried Exhibition at the Portsmouth Arts and Cultural Center, Portsmouth, VA - 2014
· Chrysler Museum's TIME group Exhibition at the Seldon Gallery, Norfolk, VA - 2013
Awards
· 3rd Annual Hartley Invitational : Best In Show - Salmagundi Club NYC
May 2024 - Judged by Dr. Gregory Hedberg
· The Portrait Society of America : 1st Place Painting : International Portrait Competition
May 2023
· The Portrait Society of America : 1st Place Painting & People’s Choice Award : International Portrait Competition
April 2019
· 1ST PLACE : Grand Central Atelier Still Life Competition - Queens, NY.
June 2017
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Publications
· The Epoch Times : Salmagundi Club Celebrates Excellence in Art With Its 3rd Hartley Invitational
· Alex Venezia, “Beyond the Fence” at Arcadia Contemporary : Underpaintings Magazine
November 2021
· Beyond The Fence : American Art Collector Magazine
November 2021 Issue 193
· Of Love and Longing : International Artist Magazine
December / January 2021
· 11 Artists to Collect Now : PleinAir Magazine
November 2020
· In The Studio: Alex Venezia : Newington Cropsey Cultural Studies Center - Art and Culture Now
February 2020
· Alex Venezia at Arcadia Contemporary : Underpaintings Magazine
September 2019
· Melancholic Refrains : American Art Collector
September 2019
· Realist Outlook : Art & Antiques Magazine
September 2019
· The Line - Ep.4 featuring Alex Venezia : East Oaks Studio
October 2017
· 21 Under 31: Young Artists to Watch in 2016 : Southwest Art Magazine
September 2016
· Finalist in Artistic Excellence competition : Southwest Art Magazine
December 2015
· 5 Artistic Prodigies 21 And Under : Article posted to Buzzfeed
September 2015
· Aspiring Artist of The Month : Artist's Blok Magazine
March 2014