ARNO

Velvets by

Custom portraiture, retro style and contemporary works on velvet by modern master velvet painter - ARNO.

Portrait of Sanda - Oil on Velvet 2023

ABOUT ARNO

Arno began his passion for velvet painting in 1994 with series of works on velvet for the Gypsy Lounge in Portland, Oregon. Since that time, Arno has had several ehibitions in galleries and lounges along the westcoast including the Hollywood Standard Hotel in Los Angeles. His mid century modern style and contemporary velvet paintings have appeared in motion pictures, music videos and will soon be showcased on a soon to be announced hit HBO series in spring, 2026 .

TIKI

“Carving” 32’ x 26” Tiki Oil on Velvet

“Recline” 24” x 48” Oil on Velvet

“Thatch” Tiki Bar Interior Wall Painting 36” x 72” Oil on Velvet

“Stephanie” 20 × 16” Portrait on velvet

Bouidoir

“Tummy” 24”x 18” Oil on Velvet

PORTRAIT

“Blinged” 28”x 20” Portrait on velvet

Lipstick” 22”x16” Oil on Velvet

Public Venues

Celebrity

“Arno deploys an implicitly ironic medium, black-velvet painting - to deconstruct the illusionism endemic to the film and music industries.”

READ MY STORY

“Blurred Lines” Oil on Velvet

“Celebrities have become a reflection of our popular culture and worshipped like religious deities. Like Elvis Presley crying on stage or Jesus on the Cross, both of which are familiar subjects of the velvet painting, so too do these iconic modern subjects in defining pop culture moments, become harmonious with the velvet painting medium.”

- Arno

View Gallery

PHILOSOPHY

ARNO believes velvet paintings follow a tradition of folk art that express popular culture metaphors and symbols of our time. Inspired by the works of velvet painter Edgar Leeteg, Arno combines the texture of velvet with the mystery of the shadows the medium invokes to continue the cross - cultural tradition and also to push the boundaries with subjects both past and present with this timeless artform.