Dante Biss-Grayson’s art is an expression of his experiences as a combat veteran combined with the PTSD those experiences begot him. Having studied art before enlisting, he became reacquainted with painting as a means of confronting and expressing the loss, the absurdity, and the beauty of war.

Being half Native American, of the Osage Nation, Dante uses the archetype as an image to guide his artistic process, getting into a trance like state and letting the work find itself. He adheres to the Zen tradition of simple strokes converging with one idea, leaving on the canvas one decisive expression. Trauma 9: Self Portrait aesthetically emits as much joy as chaos. Striking highlights coupled with a subdued color palette intermingle within the frame, possibly foreshadowing hope in the midst of despair, or perhaps the opposite.