Derek Bencomo
Derek is an artist who values the freedom from strict form. Derek's sensitive caress across the finished work reflects his appreciation of the secret integrity of each individual piece as he guilds it into a new life. It is a delicate transformation, a synthesis of the creative energy of a man.
"One morning I was out surfing. I was thinking about my artwork. As I was paddling out for the next wave, I began to understand the relationship to surfing and the environment that I lived in, and how it related to my work. I was paddling over the reef, I was looking down at all the sea life swimming below me, beautiful fish swaying and slicing in the water. The waves in front of me were cresting and peaking, beautiful and powerful. The soft breeze blowing ripples across the water. As I got out to the break, I looked towards shore. The palm trees were swaying and rocking back and forth in the winds. All of these things were happening at the same time, and in a way, I was part of it. I realize that my environment is what really influences my work. The ocean and the beach have always been my sanctuary. My sculpturing is my other sanctuary. I can go into my studio, get totally absorbed in my work, and be at peace with myself. Now that I am more mature in my art, I feel privileged that I can bring together my personal life with my art life and live in complete harmony as one sanctuary.
As I look at the curves of my work, I can see my self, sliding down a wave, looking at how the lip of the vessel folds over reminds me of the lip of the wave curling over me. If you hold one of my pieces up to your ear, you can almost hear the roar of the sea."
The works that I am producing are vessels and sculpture that "dance". The Hawaiians have a saying for this: "E Como Mai", "Come to me Dancing"."
Derek Bencomo was born in Los Angeles, California on October 4 1962, and was raised on the southern California coast. He spent many days at the beach surfing. In 1984, the congestion of the city and the crowding of the beaches no longer fitted Derek's low-key life style and he and his daughter Jessica moved to Hawaii and finally settled on the island of Maui. Derek's work is seen year round at select locations throughout the United States. Derek's work is collected by museums and private collectors in the United States and from around the world.
Life is good, if you enjoy what you are doing. My life is good.
Aloha, Derek Bencomo
PERMANENT MUSEUM AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
• museum of art and design, new york
• long beach county art museum
• hawaii state art museum
• the contemporary museum, honolulu
• the detroit institute of arts
• high museum of art, atlanta
• first hawaiian bank corporate collection
• fine arts museums of san francisco
• texas state bank corporate collection
• bishop museum, the native hawaiian culture and arts
• mobile museum of art
• smithsonian institution, renwick gallery
• university of michigan art museum
• yale university art gallery, new haven
"One morning I was out surfing. I was thinking about my artwork. As I was paddling out for the next wave, I began to understand the relationship to surfing and the environment that I lived in, and how it related to my work. I was paddling over the reef, I was looking down at all the sea life swimming below me, beautiful fish swaying and slicing in the water. The waves in front of me were cresting and peaking, beautiful and powerful. The soft breeze blowing ripples across the water. As I got out to the break, I looked towards shore. The palm trees were swaying and rocking back and forth in the winds. All of these things were happening at the same time, and in a way, I was part of it. I realize that my environment is what really influences my work. The ocean and the beach have always been my sanctuary. My sculpturing is my other sanctuary. I can go into my studio, get totally absorbed in my work, and be at peace with myself. Now that I am more mature in my art, I feel privileged that I can bring together my personal life with my art life and live in complete harmony as one sanctuary.
As I look at the curves of my work, I can see my self, sliding down a wave, looking at how the lip of the vessel folds over reminds me of the lip of the wave curling over me. If you hold one of my pieces up to your ear, you can almost hear the roar of the sea."
The works that I am producing are vessels and sculpture that "dance". The Hawaiians have a saying for this: "E Como Mai", "Come to me Dancing"."
Derek Bencomo was born in Los Angeles, California on October 4 1962, and was raised on the southern California coast. He spent many days at the beach surfing. In 1984, the congestion of the city and the crowding of the beaches no longer fitted Derek's low-key life style and he and his daughter Jessica moved to Hawaii and finally settled on the island of Maui. Derek's work is seen year round at select locations throughout the United States. Derek's work is collected by museums and private collectors in the United States and from around the world.
Life is good, if you enjoy what you are doing. My life is good.
Aloha, Derek Bencomo
PERMANENT MUSEUM AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
• museum of art and design, new york
• long beach county art museum
• hawaii state art museum
• the contemporary museum, honolulu
• the detroit institute of arts
• high museum of art, atlanta
• first hawaiian bank corporate collection
• fine arts museums of san francisco
• texas state bank corporate collection
• bishop museum, the native hawaiian culture and arts
• mobile museum of art
• smithsonian institution, renwick gallery
• university of michigan art museum
• yale university art gallery, new haven