Ale Casanova, After Tension, 2023
Oil on linen, 12 x 16 in

We're thrilled to share that Ale Casanova’s evocative portraiture has been featured in American Art Collector magazine. In this collector’s essay, Casanova’s work becomes part of an intimate reflection on beauty, memory, and connection.

At Abend Gallery, we’re passionate about the relationships that form between collectors and the artworks they bring home. That emotional bond is beautifully captured in the recent feature, Beautiful Strangers, published in American Art Collector magazine.

In this heartfelt essay by writer and playwright David Masello, the author recounts his journey of collecting intimate portraits—especially those of young, contemplative men—and the way these painted figures quietly inhabit his everyday life. Among them is After Tension, a striking oil painting by Spanish artist Ale Casanova, which was recently acquired through Abend Gallery and is prominently featured in the article.

Holding it in place on the wall behind the couch where I have a large salon-like assemblage of portraits… I decided early on to keep it in the living room so I could see him for more of the day, and for more visitors to do as well.”
— David Masello, American Art Collector

Casanova’s portrait becomes part of a larger meditation on beauty, youth, and the quiet companionship that art can offer. His subtle brushwork and emotionally resonant subjects reflect the enduring power of figurative painting, as well as the unique human stories that unfold between artist, artwork, and viewer.

We invite you to read the full article and experience this moving story for yourself.

Shared with permission from American Art Collector
Written by David Masello.

Note: Ale Casanova’s painting After Tension—featured in this article—has been sold. To explore more available works by the artist, click below.