Denny Caruso

ARTIST

In the Spring of 2018, I stood staring at an enormous painting exhibited on the gallery wall in front of me. It was absolutely electrifying. I stood motionless for a moment breathing in every square inch of that piece. The colors, the brushstrokes, the choice of materials. I was captivated. I had been on several art tours in New York City before but this day felt different somehow. As the tour ended,  I became filled with a sense of urgency. I needed to begin painting again. I needed to be the artist I was certain I could be.  I realized this was a moment of great importance for me and would change the course of my creative career.

.Although I had been working as an interior designer, I was still looking for a way to express myself without boundaries or constraints. I enjoyed using color texture, pattern, light, composition, and spacial awareness. All of these elements can be found in the visual arts, My background gave me a head start in the creative art world and as the persistent “voice in the back of my head” grew louder and louder with every art tour, museum visit, graffiti viewing, and art film, I felt compelled to create art. I stepped out of my comfort zone. I sublet my first studio and six months later my journey as an artist began. 

My inspiration comes from many places. Music, life experiences, literature, current events, street art, and even conversations I have overheard.

In the “Unaware Series”, I have utilized plaster, fabric, resin, paint, and found objects to create wall sculptures. The pieces are all white, allowing the focus to be on the images of the faces alone. Some have bands over their eyes or mouths. Fabric drapes over the sculptures ,creating a veil between the sculpture and the viewer, a representation of the emotional veil we keep between ourselves and others. These pieces are rich in texture.

In my paintings, the use of color, bold and bright, is at the forefront. I am inspired by many iconic artists. Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Elaine de Kooning, Joan Mitchell, and AndyWarhol. I incorporate references to street art, pop art, neo expressionism and abstract expressionism. My practice is always evolving. I look for new ways to express human emotions and the complexities of our world.