Who is Henry Asencio

Contemporary painter Henry Asencio is a master of painting the female form. He is naturally drawn to paint the human figure for its timeless sensitivity. His work blends classical ideas of figurative painting with a unique contemporary style, reminiscent of the Impressionists. He works with either live models or photographs, seeking to portray his female figures as strong and contemplative. He paints in a very aggressive and loose style, often painting with a palette knife. The artist states, "Painting for me is very cathartic, and is the most articulate way for me to express my passion and internal dialogues." Merging introspection and visual spectacle, Henry Asencio's personal investigations of femininity, spirituality, and abstraction possess the power to transform today's ideals of elegance and contemporary sensuality.

In 1996, Henry Asencio was sponsored by art supply company Thayer and Chandler, which enabled him to participate in exhibitions as far as Germany and Paris. In 1998, his work was recognized in an art competition in Amsterdam, where he achieved the distinction of being a first-time artist dually awarded with gold and silver medals, in two separate divisions: self-portraiture in oils and work in acrylic medium. Excellent in his chosen discipline, Henry Asencio graduated with honors from the San Francisco Art Academy in 1999. He was even a chosen finalist in The Artists Magazine competition that same year, again for his work in portraiture.0