Robert Venosa with Martina Hoffmann at Venosa's exhibition at MicroCoSM Gallery, NYC 2008
Our friend and Visionary brother, Robert Venosa, has died. Sad news to all in the visionary community for whom he was an inspirational mentor and fountainhead. Roberto's artwork evoked the glistening jewel-like imaginal worlds inhabited by luminous celestial angels, with an utterly unique and finely crafted style. His work became familiar to an international audience through exhibitions and appearances, through his monographs, Manas Manna, Noospheres, and Illuminatus, through countless magazine and newspaper articles, plus his web presence. Many came to know him through the classes in "Painting the Fantastic" that he co-taught with his beloved partner, the distinguished artist, Martina Hoffmann. Venosa was a much sought-after keynote speaker at festivals and congresses of like-minded visionaries. He introduced H.R. Giger to Salvador Dali. He studied painting with the late great Mati Klarwein and the venerable Ernst Fuchs, later exhibiting with them as peers. Bridging the world-wide Visionary Art community, Venosa was an emissary of the power of imagination, a courageous artist willing to declare that his visions had sometimes been catalyzed by psychedelics. We send healing prayers to all that suffer from the loss of Roberto, especially his family and dear Martina who devotedly gave herself to his care.
We love you Roberto, we bet heaven looks just like you painted it! www.venosa.com
Below is Martina's statement:
ROBERT VENOSA
January 21, 1936 to August 9, 2011
Dear Friends and Community,
A great soul has completed his earthly journey and graduated to the next level.
The great Venosa left his body on Tuesday August 9, 2011 at 6:56 PM.
His transition was graceful and accomplished in the same composed and calm manner that he exuded throughout his life.
I feel honored to have been able to accompany him to the gate, having walked 30 beautiful years together in this life.
Robert had a long and brave healing journey with cancer and showed incredible strength on this path as well as tremendous courage in facing this great dragon.
He believed in the natural healing ability of the human body and proved the doctors wrong time and again, who only gave him a few month’s to live upon his diagnosis over eight years ago.
He was a powerful human being. Together he and I, held the piece of his physical struggle safely tucked away from the eyes of the world like a precious pearl.
It is with great sadness that I’m sharing this news today but also with deep gratitude, for his magical and special life; fully lived.
Even in death he gave those surrounding him a powerful initiation into the scared mysteries of the unknown.
We will carry him in our hearts forever, remembering the light he shone on so many. He so appreciated the light that others shone upon him.
In loving memory of my great love, compañero, best friend and artistic accomplice.
Martina Hoffmann and family.
May 2011
