Asencio


Henry Asencio is an American painter who works largely in the medium of oil on canvas in the abstract expressionism style. He is known for his paintings of the female form on abstract backgrounds.

Early life

Henry Asencio was born in 1971 in Los Angeles and raised in Santa Maria, California. He painted as a self-taught artist up until his mid-twenties. Asencio experimented with elements of realism, specifically photorealism. After years of experimentation with various global influences, Asencio developed a unique artistic style of his own.

Career

In 1996, the art supply company, Thayer and Chandler, sponsored Asencio's work, including Asencio in touring exhibitions throughout countries in Europe, including Germany and France. In 1998, Asencio's work was recognized in an art competition in Amsterdam, winning gold and silver medals, for self-portraiture in oils and work in acrylic medium, respectively. He studied and trained in the area of fine art, graduating with honors from the San Francisco Academy of Art University in 1999. He was a chosen finalist for his portraiture in the 1999 Artist's Magazine competition.
Asencio began his professional painting career in 2000 with limited edition mixed media prints. These prints use techniques that combine lithography and serigraphy. Once printed, the paintings are then each hand embellished. Prints are produced in limited editions of 195, 25 Artist's proofs. Asencio lives in San Jose, California, home to his personal studio.

Style

Asencio's painting style is loosely defined in a contemporary format, combining elements of expressionism and realism with abstract painting techniques. Asencio's art has been described as "abstract expressionism" and "abstract realism". He says of his own style:

My strongest influences as far as technique are the Abstract Expressionists. I like very much that they had their own philosophy. I use what I am more empathetic with and that blends somewhat with my own personality. There are giants in the art world who really move me: de Kooning, Lucien Freud, Picasso and Klimt. If I can bring as much integrity or do as much as they can as far as choosing my own path and following it, I'll be happy. The recognition I don't need as much.

Exhibitions, collections, and selected works