OF LOVE and LONGING

Portraits by Alex Venezia

- Krystle Stricklin

Alex Venezia is an artist whose portraits radiate both love and longing, in quiet scenes that find an exquisite balance between serene stillness and rousing emotion. Inspired from an early age by the work of Caravaggio and a poster he saw of John W. Waterhouse’s Lady of Shalott, 1888, Venezia’s own poetic compositions are an unmistakable nod to such historical figures, as well as other masters of intimate scenes, like the Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershøi, whose subdued, haunting interiors reflect similar emotions of longing and loneliness. Yet, Venezia’s portraits are distinctly modern, both imaginative and full of emotional storytelling, and often inspired by the love and affection shared with his family and friends.

As a rising star in the world of representational art, last year proved to be a very busy year for the artist, starting in January with the unveiling of two new works at the LA Art Show for Arcadia Contemporary, a gallery with whom Venezia has developed a close working relationship. Then in April, he won the 1st Place Painting and the People’s Choice Award at the Portrait Society’s annual conference for another of his works titled Haunting. To cap off an exciting year, Venezia celebrated the debut of his solo show Sentimental Works at Arcadia Contemporary in September. The nearly sold-out show, comprised a series of new paintings, including Sisters, Braids, Sketching, Returning Home, and At Rest.

The painting