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Shay Davis Works
View video of "Inside the Artist's Studio" talk from 10/11/2022
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Lakewood ,CO
Statment
“I decided years ago that my life’s purpose is to create art that has it all. I want my work to demonstrate extraordinary handling of paint, design elements, and subject matter. I require all of my paintings to include three intrinsic elements: deep meaning, detailed precision, and exemplary composition. To achieve this, I spend many hours preparing and editing to ensure that my finished work contains each of these essential aspects. I model my multi-layered painting process after many of the masters-Titan, Rubens, Van Dyck, to name a few. Because of the high expectations, I place on myself, I am always experimenting and looking for ways to improve my work. I find inspiration everywhere–dreams, meditation, and everyday life.
Bio
Shay Davis grew up at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, where art and sports competed for his passion from an early age. Unwilling to choose between the challenge of a physical contest and the mental challenge of Salvador Dali, he found accommodation for both, eventually becoming a star running back for the University of Colorado while simultaneously attaining a bachelor’s degree in fine art. After graduation, sports temporarily gained the bottom hand.
Equilibrium was reestablished in 2004 when Davis moved to San Diego and began dividing his time between studio and surf. Taking turns riding the waves and perfecting his craft. It was in San Diego that he found himself traveling in easy company with students of the “lowbrow” school, a vivid and often mischievous style well-suited to his laid-back nature. By the time he returned to Colorado in 2012, sports had been consigned to the back seat and Davis has since been primarily devoted to developing his distinctive brand of “futuristic surrealism".
Sometimes complex, occasionally austere, often playful and always purposeful, Davis’s striking images are visually delicious, intellectually nourishing and emotionally satisfying. A capricious blush of Dali still tinges many of his canvasses, Davis’s infinite imagination, gentle humor and bone-deep reverence for his subjects are plain to see in every precise brush stroke. And if Davis’s physical pursuits are currently spending more time on the sidelines, they continue to give his artistic endeavors a welcome assist.
“Sports teach you self-discipline and a strong work-ethic,” Davis explains. “Those qualities are just as important to my art.”
That’s not surprising, considering that Davis practices the same approach to painting as favored by the Dutch Masters, a time-consuming and labor-intensive method involving several strata and tremendous mental organization. Davis’s themes are likewise layered, inviting the mind to penetrate the surface and extract meaning unique to each beholding eye. Shay has won many awards including The San Diego Art prize for the top San Diego artist in 2009, peoples choice award at the Spirit of the West Cheyenne WY museum show in 2019, and also was Chosen to be a heartest for the prestigious hearts of San Francisco project in 2010. Shay has had gallery shows all over the United States and the majority of the world including Galleri Oxholm in Copenhagen, Art Basil in Sweden, and the Museum of Art in Australia. Shay resides in Denver Colorado with his beloved dog blade where he grew up and pursues his art passion every day to give the world a different perspective on life and a hope that people will be drawn to it and give them something to bring them joy from the normal rat race of life.
Quote, Slay the dragon get the gold.
Education:
University of Colorado Fine Arts Bachelor in Arts 1992 - 1995
Awards and Honors
Art and Soul (Program teaching Children with disabilities how to paint)
Honorable Mention Art Award: Curtis Humanities Art Center 2000
Designed Logos for Solo Sports
Designed CD cover for the Rap Group Three Kings 2002
Showcase Artist: Mask project Cherry Creek 2004
Mutts and Modeling Charity Event 2004
Caldwell Banker Charity Auction for Homeless 2004
Spill Lounge Charity Event 2004
Old Chicago Designated Artist 2005
San Diego art prize awarded to the best Artist in San Diego, CA, 2009.
San Diego Artwork featured artist, 2010, 2011
Heartest of san Fransisco , 2010
Selected Publications:
https://shoutoutcolorado.com/meet-shay-davis-true-artist-oil-painting-on-canvas/
https://abendgallery.com/artist/shay-davis
http://www.gallerioxholm.dk/shay-davis
https://303magazine.com/2014/08/friday-experience-shay-davis-artist-extraordinaire/
https://www.dailycamera.com/2011/06/08/ex-cu-buff-shay-davis-follows-his-vision/
https://www.americanartcollector.com/issues/154
https://www.americanartcollector.com/issues/169/drifting-along
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/american-art-collector/20191101/281565177549834
Cover San Diego City beat 2009
Selected Exhibitions:
Curtis Humanities Art Center, juried. Denver, CO 2001
Core Gallery Juried. Denver, CO. 2001
Space Gallery. Denver, CO. 2001
Access Gallery. Denver, CO. 2001
Space Gallery. Denver, CO. 2002
Daniel and Fischer Clock Tower Gallery. Denver, CO. 2004
Spark Gallery Juried. Denver, CO. 2004
Key Steakhouse. Denver, CO 2005
Artwalk. San Diego, CA. 2007
Wildcoast art Show- fundraiser. San Diego, CA. 2007
Eagle Fine Art. La Jolla, Ca. 2007
Sideways riders art show with eek a mouse, San Diego, CA. 2008
Alarm will sound. Distinction gallery, San Diego CA. 2007
Hive Gallery, Los Angles, CA. 2008
Synergy art show for cancer, San Diego CA. 2008
Paramount Pictures artist for the movie the soloist. April, 2009.
Last rites gallery, New Breed. New York NY, 2009
Cannibal Flower featured artist. Los Angles, CA 2010
Oceanside Museum of art, steam punk show. San Diego, CA 2010
Cave Gallery, Los Angles, CA. 2011
Distinction Gallery, "seven deadly sins" San Diego, CA. 2011
Oxholm Galleri , Copenhagen Denmark. 2014
Scope Sweden 2014
Point Gallery, "what i have become" 2015. Denver, CO
Abend gallery " Inner visions" 2016. Denver, CO
Abend gallery " minature show" 2016. Denver, CO
Abend gallery "solo show" Vision Quest 2018 Denver, CO
Westward gallery "western Funk" 2019 Denver, CO
Out west show Cheyenne Wyoming, 2020 First place
Out west show Cheyenne Wyoming, 2021.
Best of the west art-show, Great falls Montana, 2022.
Selected Collections:
Matt Russell: Detroit Lions
Matt Lepsis: Denver Broncos
Koy Detmer: Philadelphia Eagles
Steve Busik: Denver Broncos
Angel Echeveria: Colorado Rockies
Halle Berry: Actress
Tony Hawk: Pro Skateboarder
Bill Garnett: Indiana Pacers
Jayne Seymour: Actress
Greg Allman: Allman brothers
Representation:
Abend Gallery. Denver ,CO.
Galleri Oxholm, Copenhagen Denmark.
Rare Gallery, Jackson Hole, Wyoming.