Wesley Younie

Growing up in Portland, Wesley Younie has always been inspired by the natural world
around him. His work deals with how society interacts with the natural world. Entering
landscapes and environments that have never been seen. Working on semi-narrative
paintings and sculpture he discusses human, animal and vegetative interactions. He
wants the viewer to be taken on an adventure, like a naturalist discovering a new species.
Leaving the everyday. Some inspirations include fairy tales, adventure stories, cartoons,
décor, and natural history. In his Utopian worlds exotic animals and plants tell stories about
the environments they inhabit.
He is interested in the man made, the plastic worlds we have created to represent “the
natural world”. Places like Disneyland, zoos, parks, and gardens are the new American
landscape. Using patterns and glitter, fake plants and gold leaf his work is almost “decorated”.
As the natural world continues to disappear we need to save and respect our natural places.

Wesley was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up exploring his parent’s backyard with his
twin brother. During this time his deep fascination with and connection to the natural world
began to flourish. After high school, Wesley pursued his interest in art at the California
College of Art and at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. He finished his Bachelor’s of
Science in Painting at Portland State University. His freelance work has ranged from photo
styling, animal exhibit fabrication, illustration, floral and garden design. He currently lives
in Portland, Oregon with geckos.

Check out Portland artist Wesley Younie art paintings in the Hungry Eyeball Online Gallery. He is currently hanging his art at the Tender Loving Empire art show called “BUZZ”, curated by Hungry Eyeball. The show shall be up until Nov. 2nd, 2010.