I have been a self-taught artist for over 20 years. Creating visual art came naturally for me since childhood. I never gave much thought of exploiting my abilities until a Gerhard Richter 'Razor" painting at the Art Institute of Chicago mesmerized me during a school trip. It was an epiphany that inspired me to someday be his contemporary.

Ad Reinhart once wrote "Art is art. Everything else is everything else." Few things—if any—are as coveted and can command over $100 million for something so small, light, and created with such brevity. For me, creating art is not about money, but about expressing a labor of love, desire, and obsession. And as I’ve learned, knowing how to create art is only one facet of being an artist. Any semi-skilled artist can replicate a Rodin sculpture, a Pollock drip painting, or a Man Ray photo. But it takes someone with great imagination, acumen, creativity, substance, and originality to produce something noteworthy, and that’s what matters. Therefore, it was essential for me to find my own concept and style to compliment my skills.

"Abstract extraction" is a concept I practice by applying layers of paint which forms impurities such as abnormal areas, unwanted waste, over-abundance, and discoloration. I then meticulously extract these impurities to produce a clean and aesthetic finish filled with vivid colors and abstract patterns. As a result of this concept I try to make a conscious effort outside of my art studio to extract real-life impurities such as hatred, ignorance, malice, anger, immorality, unhealthy food, dirt, odor, etc., to achieve a healthier mind, body, and soul.

My passion for art is equally shared with my love for classical music. Art and classical music are universal languages that are readily recognized, appreciated, and honored throughout the world to enrich the edification of mankind. I am greatly influenced by such masters as Picasso, Dali, Rothko, Pollock, Warhol, and Richter, and deeply inspired by titans such as Bach, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, and most notably…Beethoven.

Danny Vu