Ever since he was young, Steve Wenta was fascinated by powerful forms in conflict. From the day he first copied a muscled, hammer wielding arm from a baking soda box, he would never be satisfied with adolescent concepts of Sesame street or Hot Wheels. This was the era of Conan, Frazetta, Corben and the black and white comics of the 70s.

In the late 90s, a British wave of dark, violent art launched him out of artistic inactivity. From magazines like 2000AD, Bisley, Bolland, and Bolton showed him a future that was nihilistic and hopeless. Steve respected this kind of tough, raw and honest work.

Here in small town America, the fantasists like Horley and Ryman found their way to him through a new and visionary media...Heavy Metal magazine. It would be the kind of art that Steve would always respect...ingenuity that came from restless souls, created by artists of integrity and originality.

When you look at the art of Steve Wenta, you will see how many of these masters have infiltrated his work. But Steve’s creations are more than just replicated karaoke. Each drawing reflects his own compelling vision...a kind of dark sensibility that makes the meek look away, while the rest of us stare in amazement.

Yet Steve’s talent is exceeded only by his modesty. If you try to elevate his work to his contemporaries, he will wince at your audacity. If you marvel at any of his stunning creations, he will point out the most diminutive flaw. His validation comes not from board room big shots, but rather his peers who flourish outside the mainstream. His greatest desire is not to be recognized by the masses, but to inspire any young outcast who finds originality in strange places. "I want to give back to others what art has given to me" he admits.

His final hope is that his website pay tribute to his idols, and be a safe haven for artists in the making. So what’s in it for Steve? With hallmark humility he says "Take away everything from me but a pencil and a scrap of paper and I can survive." To those who understand Steve Wenta, what he says, as is what he draws, makes perfect sense.