Alex Venezia Undraped (AUDIO)

https://www.alexvenezia.com   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: Odd Nerdrum, 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