Most of us know Richard Grieco as an actor who's big start was on 21 Jump Street with Johnny Depp. He's earned his chops as an actor and a musician but most people don't know he is an accomplished painter and has been for almost 20 years.
My Emptiness by Richard GriecoOver the weekend Grieco's passion hit a new height. One of his pieces landed the highest bid at ART PROJECT LA. Not only did his creation land the highest bid of the night, it beat out a Picasso and a Warhol.
Although his work is most often categorized as Abstract you will also see a bit of expressionism, surrealism and cubism to name a few. Combining the greatest qualities of many art styles has resulted in him pioneering a style of art in it's own right that he has coined
"Abstract Emotionalism".
Grieco sums is up this way:
“My work is capturing lighting in a bottle. It’s a pure unbridled emotion. I am a painter who puts his emotions on canvas and honestly my work is as much part of my life as breathing.”
Celebrities and art lovers gathered this weekend for Art Project Los Angeles – the third annual red-carpet art auction and gala event benefiting AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA). The event raised over $180,000 for APLA, which provides direct care services and HIV prevention programs to more than 11,000 Angelenos.
The evening began with a slew of celebrity guest arrivals on the “red” carpet, which was actually a grassy trail that served as the first introduction to the “California” theme of the evening. Celebrity guests included Richard Grieco (21 Jump Street / Booker), Kathy Griffin, Robert Herjavec (Shark Tank), Alex Lombard (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter), Alfred Molina (Chocolat, Raiders of the Lost Ark), Mark Ordesky (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring), Judy Tenuta, and Marni Wing.
All proceeds benefit APLA, one of the nation’s largest AIDS service organizations, which relies heavily on private support to operate a range of HIV care, prevention, testing, and advocacy programs.
Since DISH only focusus on the local the question is begging to be asked, why would we write about this??
Because, Richard Grieco will be having a show here in Houston in September as a kick off to his very first Las Vegas November 9th solo art exhibition at Planet Hollywood. His friend and art advisor and DISH Lover Reyne Hirsch is putting together an invite only viewing of his art to launch the Vegas event. If you are lucky enough to attend the Houston event, which Grieco himself will be attending, you will automatically be invited to the Vegas red carpet event. One ticket in fact buys two! WOOHOO!
More details to come on the Houston event...it's being planned as we type!
For more information on Richard's art CLICK HERE