About
Alex Venezia b.1993 Virginia Beach, Virginia; currently lives and works in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Primarily a self taught painter, Alex Venezia, first became aware of the transcendent power of art during a high-school art lesson on chiaroscuro while examining the works of Caravaggio. This class marked a unique turning point for the young student as he began to consider a vocation in the arts. Searching for new art experiences he frequented the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia where he was able to fill his eyes with the works of the Masters and make copies. Venezia has sought out and studied classical technique with many of todays top representational painters including: Colleen Barry, Daniel Sprick, Michael Klein, and Jeff Hein. "In his words, Inspiration comes in many forms, and usually far from the easel, but there’s nothing like seeing the work of an artist that you hold in high regard in person. It has a way of putting me in my place and motivating me to become a better painter." And so it has. Most recently Venezia took home the 2017 first place prize in the Still Life Competition at the prestigious Grand Central Atelier in New York.
Alex Venezia has been a featured artist in Southwest Art Magazine, 21 Under 31: Young Artists to Watch in 2016 and BuzzFeed article 5 Artistic Prodigies 21 And Under. He is the recipient of numerous awards and has participated in many group shows throughout the United Sates. He currently lives and maintains a studio w/ painters Michael Klein and Louis Carr in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Alison Collins
Director, Collins Galleries. Orleans, Massachusetts, USA
Selected Exhibitions:
· 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:
· 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:
· 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
Summary of art education:
Selected list of workshops :
- Odd Nerdrum (The Nerdrum School)
- Colleen Barry (Figure Structure workshop)
- Daniel Sprick (Painting The Interior workshop)
- Jeff Hein (Portrait painting workshop)
- Michael Klein (Floral painting workshop)
- Joshua LaRock (Portrait painting workshop)
- John De La Vega (Painting the portrait and figure in oils)
- Ken Olaes Garcia (Drawing the human figure) (Rendering the human figure in oil) (The academic approach to oil painting/ Caravaggio master copy class)
- Semester @ Virginia Commonwealth University of the Arts