Playful, sexy, animalistic (and affordable) , informs much of Miss Van’s body of work. The French did invent 'joie de vivre,' which is exactly what we feel from looking at Miss Van's beautiful ballerinas, renaissance women & masked muses. But who is Miss Van?!
Miss Van, aka Vanessa Alice Bensimon (also known as Vanessa Castex), born in 1973 in Toulouse France, is considered one of the best known painters of the graffiti scene. She started wall-painting at the age of 20, in 1993, initiating the feminine movement in Street Art.
Miss Van has travelled the world painting her instantly recognizable women on the streets, as well as on canvas. She has exhibited extensively for decades worldwide in Europe, USA and Asia. Miss Van’s recent artistic pursuits have taken her to Los Angeles, Miami , Spain and Brazil, which hallmarks a recent return to street art, after several years spent solely painting in the studio, charging her new works with increased depth, emotion and an elevated romantic darkness and delicacy. Her iconic sultry female characters reappear in sensual yet dark animal masks and evolving environments. In a gauzy romantic compositions, they carry a surreal quality of burlesque, resonating with a beautiful synergy of rawness, softness and emotion. Miss Van stated recently in Juxtapoz Magazine, “I’m evolving and growing up with my paintings. It’s the only way, when you paint with emotions and feelings. I’m trying to be true with myself.”
Bailarinas 6,mixed media on wood, 36.25 x 24.75 inches
Bailarinas 7,mixed media on wood, 36.25 x 24.75 inches
Bailarinas 5, acrylic on canvas, 55.125 x 66.875 inches
Ysabel LeMay's phantasmagorical nature photographs defy all odds. In a world where nature photography has been done to death, LeMay' creates unique images that radiate with awe.