Ebony Fleece by Vakseen (24x24" acrylic painting, 2015)
Biography
While working on hit records in the music industry has played a driving force in his career, it’s Vakseen’s (born Otha Davis III) passion for the arts that has served as his key to sanity in the fast paced entertainment business. The self-taught, Floridian has developed a distinct collage-influenced painting style (Vanity Pop) that fuses elements of cubism, photorealism, fashion design and pop surrealism into vibrantly alluring, abstract portraits. While most viewers assume they’re viewing collage or mixed media art, each #VakseenArt creation is in fact meticulously hand painted directly on canvas. Drawing distinct inspiration from our fascination with popular culture, his gallant paintings are a celebration of women, beauty, duality, insecurity and self preservation. Currently based in Los Angeles, his art has been featured by major brands like Adidas, Complex, Vibe, Bombay Sapphire Gin, Juxtapoz Magazine, Hi Fructose and Tupac Shakur’s estate, to name a few. In addition to being sold to collectors and art enthusiasts, his art has been shown in countless gallery exhibitions and featured in over 100 magazines worldwide.
Madam Renaissance by Vakseen (40×30″ acrylic painting, 2014)
Artist Statement
My creations pulsate with feminine energy. Women are God’s greatest work of art and I believe life as we know it, evolves around them. Although I couldn’t fathom being a woman in this patriarchal world we live in, I open my creative process to the allure inherent to women. I aim for my art to celebrate the acute imperfections and endless perfections that exist within every woman.
Vanity Pop is a celebration of women, beauty, fashion, duality, insecurities and self preservation. With that foundation, My abstract portraits are a visual dialogue about our society’s idolization of beauty, the cosmetic enhancements endured to meet the status quo and the impact this has on popular culture. Although my work looks like collage, it’s in fact, meticulously hand painted to blur the boundaries between perception and reality. By juxtaposing my subjects with diverse “perfect” features, I believe it speaks about the fragmentation within us all as we strive for acceptance. My aim is to produce art that consistently ignites discussion, captivates the senses and most importantly, question the importance we place on outer appearances.
Imitation of Love by Vakseen (12×12″, acrylic painting, 2015)
