‘You Got Your Versace on my Vintage Chocolate’ (2024) Digital Arts by Blamemrken

Blame Mr Ken is a mixed media artist whose work blends photography, digital and analog painting, drawing, collage, and pixel manipulation. His pieces, both originals and editions, often explore satirical themes, particularly how beauty is perceived across cultures, shaped by class, race, and status. Through his lens, the idea of ‘ugly’ becomes just as captivating as traditional beauty, reflecting his broader interest in the contradictions and curiosities of modern society. The notion of blame, and how it drives cultural narratives, is another recurring theme in his art.

Raised in Central America within a family of artists and adventurers, Mr. Ken’s upbringing in Panama, with summers filled with travel, profoundly influenced his artistic journey. School later brought him to Austin, where the mid-eighties counter-culture scene and underground alternative music clubs allowed him to experiment with art, fashion, and persona creation. Introduced to photography and art early on, he began painting and later attended art classes in Austin, Texas, alongside RTF (Radio, TV, Film) studies at UT Austin.

Encountering diverse ideas about art and the influence of other artists in Art School, Mr. Ken transitioned into a creative career in hospitality. As Director of Catering for luxury hotels, he shined creatively, designing social events. Simultaneously, he delved into graphic design and continued self-learning in various visual arts and sound design.

After years of conceptualizing and producing special events in major cities like Austin, Dallas, Houston, and Miami, he found a home in Miami Beach just after the opening of The Albion Hotel. He played a pivotal role in establishing Rubell Hotels’ special events department, overseeing venues throughout the hotel, the iconic pool and garden, the Sony Building rooftop, and the family’s RFC contemporary art collection, now the Rubell Museum.

Renowned for his creative happenings and events blending installations with performance art, he embraced his identity as a ‘Fence Straddler Artist,’ fusing personal and global influences to critically examine human behavior and societal constructs. Growing up in Panama as an American citizen, he experienced culture shock upon relocating to Florida after the death of his grandparents and faced a tumultuous ride navigating life in the USA as someone ‘different.’

Utilizing a glass ‘canvas’ and a variety of applications, Mr. Ken’s work often starts with a master pigment ink giclée, produced on museum-quality paper, canvas, or metal. He then adds layers of paint or collage to complete the original piece. Mr. Ken creates without limitation, exploring diverse methods and styles. Despite challenges like a brain abscess in 2016, his dedication to being a full-time artist has only deepened, infusing resilience and depth into his creations.

• Nationality: UNITED STATES
• Date of birth : unknown date
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary American Artists