Henry Asencio
Contemporary Californian painter
Henry Asencio has emerged as one of the most intriguing young
artists working today. His compositional style refers to the
classical ideals of figurative painting, but merges introspection
and visual spectacle with unmistakable modernity. His highly
personal investigations of the female figure are characterised
by open brushwork, sweeping colour, bold use of texture and
great technical precision; qualities that have earned him an
impressive range of international accolades.
Henry graduated with honours from the San Francisco Art Academy
in 1998. He was a chosen finalist in an Artist's Magazine competition
that same year for his work in portraiture, but as time went
on he became more concerned with creating a mood and aesthetic
context as opposed to replicating a scene or an image. Naturally
drawn to painting the human figure for what he describes as
"its timeless sensitivity", he is noted for the sensual
vitality of his work. Influenced by themes of transformation
and spontaneous beauty, his stated aim is to explore the essence
of a mood and create work that is striking yet simple.
Henry proclaims an admiration for individuals who have chosen
their own path. Inspired by the works of British artist Lucien
Freud, the grandson of Sigmund Freud, he is also motivated by
the "unbelievable vision, work ethic and unrelenting passion"
of Pablo Picasso. Other notable inspirations include Willem
de Kooning for, "making every stroke of the brush different"
and Gustav Klimt for, "making decorative painting with
integrity".
The artist prefers to work in oil, believing that nothing compares
to the richness and workability of the medium, and it does perfectly
complement his aggressive, painterly style. He begins each composition
with a 'gesture drawing', and then mixes colour and applies
the paint according to his temperament. He uses a palette knife,
thereby transforming a traditional painting into one possessing
his cutting edge signature style.
A native Californian, Henry lives and works in his studio near
San Jose, north of his birthplace of Los Angeles. His work is
now exhibited and collected all over the world.
"I want people to feel what I am doing - not just see what
I am painting."
