Wayne Snellen

To see some of Wayne Snellen's abstract non-objective work and other media plus some of his poetry and writing go to his own home page by clicking here.

Wayne Snellen

Wayne Snellen was born in Jefferson City, Missouri on August 27, 1942. He was always interested in art. He remembers that one of his early grade school teachers was an artist who allowed Wayne to do colored chalk drawings on the blackboard for school holidays. In high school art became an obsession with Wayne and he let his other classes lapse until he nearly failed graduating in 1954. His high school art teacher was encouraging and years later when Wayne applied for admission to art school he learned that that teacher was very disappointed that Wayne had not gone to art school right after graduation from high school.

Art school had to wait for quite a long time though. Wayne was drafted into the army in 1964 where he took basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and then was stationed at Fort Monroe, Virginia for the remainder of his time. There he met his first love and together they visited New York City. The two agreed to return to NYC after getting out of the army and live together. However, Wayne was discharged first and he returned home  to Jefferson City, Missouri where he met a kindred spirit and in 1966 was married to Joyce. One year later they had a daughter, Laura.

Wayne only made art occasionally during these years. Wayne and his family moved to a 240 acre farm where the wife of his landlord, who was an artist herself, saw some of Wayne’s work and thought it was quite good and she encouraged Wayne to consider going to art school. He applied to the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) where his former high school art teacher had gone and was accepted.

Wayne received his Bachelor of Arts degree at KCAI and then applied and was accepted at the Mount Royal School of Painting in Baltimore which is a part of the Maryland Institute, Collage of Art. He received his Masters of Fine Art there and soon after graduation the Snellens moved to New York City.

Wayne had always painted from nature and in college (art school) from the figure. However, during his years in Baltimore he began to paint in a more abstract non-objective manner even while still drawing extensively from the figure which he considers essential for a good artist.

In NYC Wayne continued to paint sporadically. He became involved in the Artist’s Talk On Art panel series group in1984. In his first years in NYC he remembers going to the Leslie-Lohman Gallery on Broome Street which had a large gay following.

Wayne continued to make art but there were great dry periods lasting months after which he would start painting feverishly for a brief period before stopping again. During this period Wayne became interested in the figure again and for a brief period Wayne attended life-drawing sessions in the studio of Charles Bell that was specifically for gay male artists. They would draw from the male model and have pot luck dinner and talk.

After 19 years of marriage Wayne’s wife, Joyce, decided to leave since it was clear that Wayne was becoming more and more open about his being gay. The separation was amicable and they still remain good friends. Laura, Wayne’s daughter is now married and has made Wayne a proud grandfather twice over.

Eventually Wayne found the basement gallery of the Leslie-Lohman Gay Art Foundation (LLGAF) on Prince Street in 1992. There he volunteered his services.

During this period Wayne fell in love with a guy who followed him home after an opening. The relationship was a difficult one lasting nearly five years. A year after that breakup Wayne met his current lover.

Working at LLGAF revitalized his interest in art and the figure again and he began exhibiting and painting more regularly. In 1993 he learned about a group of lesbian and gay artists simply called the ArtGroup which he promptly joined. He began to exhibit extensively with this group of artists.

After the resignation of the director of LLGAF in 1994 Wayne was asked to take the position. He agreed and has been director there since January 1, 1995 where Wayne has sharpened his curatorial skills and continues to paint and exhibit.
 
Statement

Art is a discovery and that art is one of the most important tools for understanding the human condition is evident in the work of all artists. It is a coming to grips with understanding life and putting it in order so that one can make heads or tails out of the chaos.

Part of that chaos is ones sexuality. Being an openly gay artist has its special priviliges — like not being afraid to confront ones own sexuality. Not that sexuality is always a central issue — however, heterosexuality seems to be such a big issue today why is it so unusual for homosexuals to be open about their sexuality? After all what is this macho business all about if not about ones sexual prowess; besides where would priests and ministers be without sexuality to rage against.

The central issue is man’s relationship to man — whether it is man to woman or any combination thereof — and art shows up that relationship like no other whether it is the written word, music, or a picture.

The purpose of the artist is to question the status quo, to be the conscience of the nation, and to discover the truth behind the smoke and mirrors. That is why kings, governors and mayors try to ban art that reveals the truth behind the mask. They are afraid man might learn something new about himself that they didn't know.

The process of this discovery and questioning is never done and is fraught with danger and sorrow and disappointment and although it can also be joyful it is a journey taken at great risk.