The Fantastic Realism art of Robert Venosa, exhibited worldwide, is represented in major collections, including those of noted museums, rock stars and European aristocracy. In addition to painting, sculpting, computer art and film design for three major motion pictures: Dune, Fire in the Sky and Race for Atlantis.  His work has been the subject of three books, and featured in numerous publications and CD covers, including those of Santana and Kitaro. 

New York City born, Venosa entered the world of fine art in the late 60's after experimenting with mind altering substances and seeing the art of Fantastic Realism masters, Ernst Fuchs and Mati Klarwein, both of whom he eventually studied with.  Of his apprenticeship with Klarwein in 1970, Venosa says, "Not only did I begin proper technique, but on occassion I had Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Jackie Kennedy and the good doctor Tim Leary himself peering over my shoulder.  That loft on 17th Street was the energy center in New York, and somehow, miraculously, in the midst of all the nonstop pandemonium, I learned to paint.  Discipline was one of the necessities that Mati emphasized and I could only join the festivities after my work was done and all brushes were washed.  Mati taught well the techniques of painting and of quality living. I'm honored to have been one of the fortunate few to have studied with him."

Venosa moved to Europe in the early 70's settling in the celebrated Mediterranean village of Cadaques in Spain, where he made acquaintance with neighbor Salvador Dali and other notables in the world of art and literature.  Much of Venosa's work and exploits are published in his books, Manas Manna (Big O), Noospheres (Pomegranate Artbooks), and, most recently, Illuminatus (Robert John).  Venosa describes his return to the U.S. after 10 years in Europe: “The admiration and aristocratic respect given the  artist in Europe is stripped clean upon arrival in the U.S. as these architects of culture are transmogrified into novelty items and entertaining curiosities.  Competing in the fast lane of high-velocity illusions and banal delusions of movies and TV poses a problem for the painter and his two-dimensional immobile images.  Nevertheless, the challenge of affecting consciousness with more eternal value cannot be denied, and so, combining the historical deep roots of European culture with dynamic America's youthful energy, an attempt is constantly made."  Presently Venosa maintains studios in Boulder, Colorado, and Cadaques.  Robert offers workshops at Omega Institute in New York, Naropa in Colorado, Esalen in California, Skyros Institute in Greece, in Bahia, and Brazil.    Robert is married to the German artist, Martina Hoffmann.