Living in scenic Manitou Springs, CO, local artist David Vincent Gonzales is fueled by his vibrant surroundings. His art vividly portrays everything from athletic prowess to wildlife and urban energy. By age 17, his work was displayed in The Smithsonian and won the New Mexico Governor’s Award. Named among the "Top Ten Artists" by Redwood Media, David’s art was selected for major events like the US
A Pro Challenge and Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Collaborating with sports legends such as Lindsey Vonn and Greg LeMond, he contributes to programs to help inner-city youth, wildlife, and eco-conscious initiatives. His work is a dynamic blend of athleticism and life's vigor that is collected and cherished by art enthusiasts from around the world. David Vincent Gonzales was born on February 3, 1971, on a U.S. Air Force Base in Wiesbaden, Germany. He grew up in Santa Fe, N.M., enjoying the benefits of belonging to a large, close-knit extended family. His family has been well-rooted in the area for 5 generations, which include many well-known artists, such as wood carver Ben Ortega and weavers Jose and Pedro Rodriguez from the Canyon Road District. “As far back as I can remember, I have been working with art materials to create something based upon my observations.” (David Vincent Gonzales)
It was evident in his youth that Gonzales was a gifted and talented artist. He attended St. Catherine’s Indian School in Santa Fe and began exhibiting his work at the young age of 12. By the time he was 17, his work was displayed in the Smithsonian and simultaneously received the New Mexico Governor’s Award. These accolades led to his art being featured in the Washington Tunnel in D.C. and the Governor's Mansion in Santa Fe, N.M. He was chosen by the Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation to attend a two-week intensive creative program, which shaped Gonzales' decision to become a practicing artist. After high school, Gonzales received a full scholarship to the San Antonio Art Institute. A few years later, he attended the Kansas City Art Institute. It was at this time, in 1993, that David’s abstractions were chosen to be in an exhibit that included works by Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Rauschenberg, and many other famous artists. His works have been included in several National Museum Traveling Exhibits and an International Exhibit where his art was displayed with the work of Keith Haring and Kenny Scharf, who are famous for their contribution to the Pop Art Movement. Throughout David's career, his artwork has received numerous prestigious awards, and he has been awarded as the official artist for several national and international festivals and sporting events. He has collaborated with Olympian World Cup alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn, Tour de France legend Greg LeMond, and Warren Miller film star, writer, director, and philanthropist Chris Anthony to help raise money for inner-city youth. The Tiger Woods Foundation commissioned David to paint Tiger winning the 2019 Masters. David's early work reflects his heritage, rich in Native American and Hispanic Cultural Traditions, but quickly expanded to include many styles and a multitude of mediums. Using oils, acrylics, watercolor, pencils, pastels, wood, and bronze, He has created 2 and 3-dimensional pieces ranging from photo-realism to abstract. He masterfully expresses his fascination with relative objects moving through space and time. It is this movement of related things that unifies his diverse body of work. It is what makes his art unique and easily recognizable. His work is not a static representation of a single moment in time; rather, they are more like living entities with a past, present, and future, ever moving and unfolding. David Vincent Gonzales is the culmination of the artistic talent that has moved throughout his family for generations.
