I found the portfolio site of NYC artist, Ben Grasso, the other day and I’m blown away by his work. His use of these exploded house structures is really haunting. They cling to shape as some omnipotence uproots them and moves them. It feels like a computer design-space image, an isometric house view mixed with calm destruction in a sensible landscape painting.
Ben Grasso, Ascending House
Ben Grasso, A Work in Progress
The other device that repeats in his work are these inexplicable scenes of destruction. A gas pump seems to be skewered by a piece of aircraft, train cars drop from the sky and smash into the ground, cruise ships are wrenched to pieces and houses are engulfed by explosions. These are so strangely peaceful and active at the same time.
Ben Grasso, Gas Station
This guy is awesome. He definitely paints things I’ve never seen before and breaks out of easy categorization. Check out more of Ben’s work at his website.