Archives: Artists

Rodel Gonzalez is an artist whose keen eye finds beauty in the commonplace and grace in the ordinary. Born in the Philippines, he began his artistic journey at age nine under the guidance of his father, Rick Gonzalez, and grandfather, Felix Gonzalez. He studied painting at the University of Santo Tomas and earned a degree from the Philippine School of Interior Design, developing the discipline and skills that would define his career.

Gonzalez’s creative talents extend beyond the canvas. At twenty, he founded the band Side A in the Philippines, serving as lead singer and primary songwriter. The group remains active today as Manila’s longest-lived band. In 1994, he embarked on a new path as a minister while continuing to create commissioned portraits, murals, and sketches. By 2002, inspired by his brother Rudolf Gonzalez and supported by his cousin Roy Gonzalez Tabora, he pursued fine art in earnest.

Today, Gonzalez has become widely recognized as an officially licensed Disney Fine Artist, creating stirring paintings of iconic characters from Disney and Star Wars movies. He is represented by Park West Gallery, and his work can be found in galleries and private collections worldwide. Reflecting on his Disney paintings, Gonzalez says each piece involves such a strong concept that every brushstroke becomes a joyful anticipation of the finished work.

Stuart Mason is a multidisciplinary artist who seamlessly blends surrealism, abstraction, and technological innovation to explore the intersection of conceptual thought and craftsmanship. Born on November 15, 1993, in Asheville, North Carolina, Mason spent most of his childhood in Charlotte, where his father’s love of the outdoors and his mother’s eye for design shaped his creative vision. Diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD at a young age, Mason views these as superpowers that enhanced his problem-solving skills and visual-spatial capabilities. He began working with his hands at age four, and at six, he discovered metalworking at a Civil War reenactment, sparking a lifelong passion for crafting with diverse materials.

During high school, Mason petitioned to teach his own guitar-building class, creating a conceptual electric guitar that won the regional Gold Key award from the Scholastic Art and Writing Society and was displayed in the Asheville Museum of Art. The guitar later earned the American Visions Award at Carnegie Hall, presented by donor Meryl Streep, which came with a scholarship to any art institute in the country. After a severe motorcycle accident that fractured his neck, broke his hand, and caused a compound fracture in his right leg, Mason had to relearn how to walk and create art.

Today, Mason works with wood, steel, copper, marble, resin, enamel, and acrylics, drawing inspiration from Picasso, Salvador Dali, Kandinsky, Michelangelo, and da Vinci. His artwork has been displayed across nearly every state and in cities including Rome, London, Berlin, and Amsterdam, and he has shown at Art Basel five times as well as at the New York and San Diego Art Expos. Stuart Mason is represented by Park West Gallery.

Kevin Tice is a retired law enforcement professional and self-taught oil painter who captures the beauty of America’s landscapes with remarkable skill. Born in the California Bay Area in 1964, he grew up in rural eastern Nevada, where his childhood was spent outdoors hiking, exploring, hunting, and fishing. Those formative years in nature gave him an enduring love for dramatic landscapes and those perfect moments when light and atmosphere create unforgettable scenes.

Tice began drawing as a young child, sketching horses, deer, and trees, and earned recognition in various art competitions. While he took some art courses in college, he considers himself primarily self-taught, learning from many great teachers and mentors over the years. After a career in law enforcement while raising three children, he now devotes himself fully to painting.

His artistic inspiration comes from landscapes, seascapes, and dramatic skies throughout the western United States. Tice paints en plein air and photographs outdoor scenes for reference, often discovering hidden locations that make his canvases shine spectacularly. He creates thumbnail sketches and small paintings to work through design ideas before completing drawings on linen panels. Working alla prima, he carefully blocks in his compositions and gradually layers paint, paying close attention to value relationships, color temperature, and edges to create sublime paintings.

Kevin Tice is represented by Park West Gallery, where he enjoyed a three-month solo show in Las Vegas in early 2024.

Cody Parker is making waves in the modern art world with his richly colored murals and bold canvas paintings that pop with energy and vision. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1989, Parker grew up playing tennis and hockey, developing a work ethic and discipline that would later fuel his artistic career. With encouragement from his parents to pursue what brings him joy, he explored art through various classes and learned a wide range of techniques and art history. Despite this formal education, Parker considers himself largely self-taught, having learned the most by experimenting and creating both successful and unsuccessful works in his early years.

Parker’s artistic process varies depending on whether he’s creating a mural or canvas piece. For murals, he uses low-pressure spray paint with just two types of caps: an Astro Fat cap for thick, wide lines ideal for large-scale works, and a Skinny Cream cap for fine details and precise blending. His canvas works feature Poska paint markers, acrylic paint, and sometimes diamond dust. His style evolved from multi-layer stencils to creating realistic images in a single layer, drawing inspiration from contemporary street and mural artists including Tristan Eaton, Hiero, Ripe, Menas, RONE, and Pichiavo.

Among Parker’s notable accomplishments are painting a mural for Iggy Azalea and creating works for celebrities like James Hype and Sommer Ray. He has participated in Art Basel for five consecutive years, fulfilling his dream of having his art displayed in Wynwood. Parker is represented by Park West Gallery.

OZ is a Las Vegas artist who creates striking imagery that blends abstraction with traditional fine art. Born in Transylvania, Romania, he began his artistic journey surrounded by European culture and the masterpieces of centuries past. This early exposure helped him develop what he calls “The Art of OZ,” a beautifully unique style that sets a new standard in creativity and powerful imagery.

In 2021, OZ was named one of the Top 3 Finalists in Park West Gallery’s annual “Made in Vegas” artist search competition. His work combines abstract elements with traditional imagery, creating pieces that are both visually compelling and emotionally resonant.

OZ wants his art to help collectors “enjoy the opportunity to expand your mind while enhancing your personal experience.” He believes that beauty has the power to heal and offers the soul a deep sense of respite, inviting viewers to join him on what he describes as a magical journey of discovery. Today, OZ is represented by Park West Gallery, where collectors can experience his distinctive vision and powerful artistic voice.

Krystiano DaCosta emerged from the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, driven by a profound urgency to learn and create. Drawing from his Italian heritage and desire to explore new horizons, he moved to Italy in his early twenties to refine his artistic skills. He later relocated to the United States, where he became a distinguished member of the Walt Disney World artistry group, working alongside talented artists from around the globe and mastering diverse techniques that shaped his distinctive style.

DaCosta is an industrial artist renowned for his innovative and cutting-edge techniques that merge the worlds of industry and art. He employs advanced tools and materials including metal, glass, and recycled plastic to create sculptures, installations, and other visual art forms. His works feature bold geometric patterns, mixed media, and conceptual themes that serve as commentary on the intersection of creativity, industry, and technological advancement.

As one of only 35 artists in the world recognized as a Walt Disney Fine Art Legacy Artist, DaCosta holds a prestigious place among those who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy. His creations often incorporate cutting-edge technology and a distinctive steampunk style, bridging classic animation with modern art forms. Represented by Park West Gallery, his work is deeply influenced by animation legends like Walt Disney and Chuck Jones.

Megan Burak is a contemporary realist artist who specializes in portraiture and still life paintings in oils. Born in Pittsburgh in 1993, she moved with her family to Ocean City, Maryland at age four. What began as childhood art projects evolved into a serious passion during middle school when she received her first sketchbook. After encouragement from high school teachers and college professors, she earned a Fine Art degree with a 2D concentration from Salisbury University, crediting much of her artistic knowledge to her mentor, Professor Jinchul Kim.

Burak’s primary inspiration comes from people and the challenge of capturing the kaleidoscope of colors she sees in skin, hair, and eyes that most viewers overlook. She masterfully weaves personality and narrative into her work, often incorporating symbolic objects like clocks, teapots, seashells, and birds to create complex stories within a single frame. Her intention is for viewers to connect their own life experiences with the narratives in her paintings, sparking questions and wonder.

Her technical process begins with sanding the canvas and applying a wash of cerulean blue, raw umber, and turpenoid before drawing her subject with millimeter precision. In 2023, following her endometriosis diagnosis, she developed a flower painting series to raise awareness and support other women facing similar challenges. Burak is currently in her second year as a resident studio artist at the Art League of Ocean City, Maryland, and is represented by Park West Gallery.

Twin sisters Amy and Elisha Kingsley were born in 1996 in Lakeland, Florida, and grew up traveling coast to coast in an RV with their parents’ Christian drama ministry. This nomadic childhood exposed them to diverse landscapes, cultures, and experiences that continue to shape their artistic vision today. Homeschooled along the way, they visited museums, explored nature, and experienced history firsthand. When they discovered they were dyslexic, reading and writing proved challenging, but drawing and painting became powerful outlets for creative and emotional expression.

After graduating high school, both sisters were accepted into their dream school, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Despite many sleepless nights adapting to high expectations, they graduated with honors at a ceremony held at Rockefeller Center. This experience pushed them beyond their comfort zones and refined their artistic style. While designing a hand-embroidered crystal jacket, they had leftover gems and decided to incorporate them into a painting that felt incomplete. This moment of inspiration led to their signature mixed-media approach, merging fashion and fine art in a way that has become highly coveted by collectors.

Today, Amy and Elisha Kingsley are represented by Park West Gallery. Mentored by artists including Stephen Fishwick, they have learned to embrace their uniqueness, viewing dyslexia and ADHD not as limitations but as superpowers. The cat-loving twins continue traveling with suitcases full of canvases, creating art inspired by America’s ever-changing scenery.

Vladimir Sorin was born in 1966 in Kishinev, Moldova, where his natural artistic talent emerged at an early age. At eleven, his prodigious skill earned him entrance to the acclaimed Schusev Art School, and he later won a scholarship to the National Art Academy. After receiving the highest honor, a Master’s in Fine Art, Sorin began his professional career painting backdrops for the National Opera House before becoming an art director in the movie business, where his realistic scenery added authentic emotions to films.

Sorin has created a unique style combining photorealism with an ethereal use of colors, light, and shading. His realistic oil paintings transport viewers to romantic locations around the world, from the evocative canals of Venice to the illuminated streets of Paris at night and the sun-splashed Northern California coast. Through meticulous shading and warm coloring, his works capture Old World Europe, the enduring power of the sea, and the eternal majesty of lush forests with vivid details that feel both real and immensely spiritual.

In May 1999, Sorin’s first major show, “Imperceptible Midday,” was held in Kishinev and proved a smashing success. His work has since been shown in museums and galleries in Vancouver, Las Vegas, Dallas, Laguna Beach, and beyond. At the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, the delegation from Moldova presented the President of the Olympic Committee with an original Sorin landscape. Today, represented by Park West Gallery, his poetic photorealistic landscapes grace personal collections throughout Europe and North America.

Zac Kinkade was born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1991 and grew up surrounded by art. His parents owned galleries showcasing the work of his uncle, Thomas Kinkade, and as the fourth generation artist in his family, Zac began drawing at a very young age. He earned recognition in local and national art competitions before turning to acrylic and oil painting at age 14. After participating in Fort Worth’s Main Street Art Festival where he first sold his work, Kinkade was accepted to Cornell University to pursue a BFA, experimenting with everything from abstract paintings to conceptual video while specializing in representational art.

Kinkade continued his education at the Art Center School for Design, learning digital painting and concept art. At 24, he published his first limited edition, a rendition of Noah’s Ark that gained recognition from the board of the Catholic Museum of Art and Library. He studied extensively under his uncle’s head studio artist, Dirk Wunderlich.

Travel has profoundly shaped Kinkade’s artistic vision. Annual road trips exploring North America with his father and brothers took him to all 50 states and most Canadian provinces, later expanding to Europe and Africa. Today, represented by Park West Gallery, Kinkade creates whimsical wildlife compositions and bold fantastical landscapes using acrylic paint, colored pencils, digital technology, and airbrushing, guiding viewers through vivid narratives drawn from real life and imagination.