H.veng.Smith
Email. Veng.paintings@gmail.com
Born on Staten Island in 1981, I began studying painting as a young kid at a local art league. Since then, painting has remained an integral part of my life.
With my work, I look to capture the feel of something made long ago, be it characters with old-fashioned appearances or objects with Old World designs. I depict ideas in my paintings in a representational and faithful manner, yet convey them visually with a whimsical touch.
Borrowing from techniques of the Northern Renaissance, I like to mix my own pigments with oil and paint by building up multiple layers. My thought process for painting, however, is less traditional and very much informed by my background in street art. I aim to make surreal impressions, with characters whose square heads are on the one hand very unreal, yet whose facial features are eerily familiar. I enjoy depicting scenes showing the viewer fictitious landscapes of an Old World interspersed with contemporary qualities. Nature also plays an important role in my work. I show animals in a more traditional manner, painting them with realistic colors and textures. Often I’ll couple animals with imaginary devices that they control.
Whether on a panel in the studio or on a wall in a city, through my work I try to convey a playful world of mixed inspirations.
Press.
http://birdgunblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/veng-interview.html
blog.vandalog.com/2009/01/finally-the-qa-with-veng/
http://www.curbsandstoops.com/blog/?page_id=86
Shows.
2012.
“Altnative Occupancy” – Cave Gallery, Venice California.
“Rather Unique” – Woodward Gallery, NY, NY.
2011.
“Robots Will Kill and Friends” – Mighty Tanaka, Brooklyn NY.
“ The Art of Basketball,Next Wave” – One Gallery, New Jersey.
“Factory Fresh Mural” Open studio week. 200 x 25 Ft. Brooklyn NY.
“ HappyFeet and the angry inch” – Stage Gallery, New Jersey.
“Robots will kill, Never say die.10th Anniversary” – Vincent Michael gallery. Philadelphia, PA
“First Taste” – Bound for Glory. Staten ISland, NY
“Too Busy to Die :RWK 10th Anniversary Show” – Ayden Gallery, Vancouver British Columbia.
“Pogtopia” – World Financial Center, NY, NY.
“Town and Country” – 320 Studios. NY, NY.
“Under the Influence” – Powerhouse Arena. Brooklyn NY.
“Crest Art Fest” – Crest Hardware, Brooklyn, NY
“Grassy Lot Show” – 145 LudLow, NY, NY.
2010.
“Robots will Kill, Never Say Die”. Group show. Vincent Michael Gallery, Philadelphia,PA
“Identifiable Reality” Solo show. Pandemic Gallery, Brooklyn NY
“A Reflection of Anonymity” Mighty Tanaka Gallery,Dumbo Brooklyn NY
“Death warmed over”, Fresthetic Williamsburg Brooklyn NY
“G40 Summit”, Art Whino Gallery, Arlington VA
“Encounters” (graffiti art expo), AE Studios, Long Island City NY
“Stokenphobia”, Pandemic Gallery, Williamsburg Brooklyn NY
Eames Inspiration Collection / Cheryl Hazan Gallery / New York, NY
2009.
Carmichael Gallery, Los Angeles CA
“Streetcrush”, Alphabeta Gallery & Shop, Greenpoint Brooklyn NY
“Products of the 80′s”, Da Bakery Shop & Gallery, Bronx NY
“Mid City Arts Anniversary”, Los Angeles CA
“The Great Outdoors”, Art Break Gallery , Williamsburg Brooklyn NY
“Mom & Popism”, Gawker Artists Space, Manhattan NY
2008
“Bookworms” (urban art of the book), trenton NJ
“Nola Rising Festival”, IRT Manhattan Ny
“From the Streets of Brooklyn”, Thinkspace Gallery, los Angeles CA
“Outside Insight” (street canvas expo) Kunstencentrum Vooruit vzw, Ghent Belgium
“Urban Mantra”, Chashama Gallery, Manhattan NY
“Made from Love”, The Bronx Muesum, Bronx NY
