Henry Asencio

Contemporary Californian painter Henry Asencio has emerged as one of the most intriguing artists on the world stage. 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. He is fascinated by the dichotomy between the aggression of his painting technique and the tranquillity of the finished composition saying: “Many of us seek harmony and peace, but along the way we embattle the obstacles of life. My earlier work did not acknowledge this. My current work celebrates it.”

Asencio has been named as ‘Today’s Top Artist’ by the USA association of Art Business News Major Shows for an astonishing four years in a row and his New York exhibitions have sold out every year. He was the first artist to receive both a gold and a silver medal in the prestigious international Amsterdam Art Competition and he was also chosen finalist in an Artist's Magazine competition for his work in portraiture. He is a huge name in the USA, and his many celebrity collectors include George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Glenn Close, Viola Davis, Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, Ice T and Coco, Anne Heche, Barry Bonds and Billy Crystal.

Asencio’s style has been described as abstract naturalism.He graduated with honours from the San Francisco Art Academy in 1998, and won a range of awards and accolades. A native Californian, Henry lives and works in his studio near San Jose, north of his birthplace of Los Angeles. His work is exhibited and collected all over the world.