Higher Ground (Underbite) Painting

b. 1994. phoenix, arizona owner/director of belhaus gallery. lives and works in phoenix, az. deriving from an affinity for minimalism and abstraction, belassen echoes a process he refers to as subtle over sound. this self-coined concept references the intensive underpainting process inherent in his work, while subsequently hinting at his desire to subtly communicate a story, thought, or feeling. deceptive in their simplicity, his paintings convey depths of meaning through abstract subject(s) paired with playfully written words, either painted-on or scratched-through a fast-drying acrylic surface. highly textured, deeply personal, and physically demanding, his work reflects the duality of the human condition, marking moments in his life that only he can fully comprehend. his works are collected across the united states, mexico, europe, the united kingdom, asia, and australia.