Chris DeRubeisThroughout history only a select few artists have truly changed the way we see art. When early humans first painted their world on stone walls with crushed berries and ash, they began a tradition of visual storytelling that eventually led to Impressionism, Abstract art, Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Surrealism and every other ism that followed. Over time many artists repeated these established styles, each adding their own interpretation but rarely creating something genuinely new.Then came Chris DeRubeis. Born in 1978, DeRubeis showed an exceptional ability to draw from an early age. He sketched on anything he could find at home and his family encouraged every step of his creative development. At age eleven his grandfather gave him his first airbrush. After watching Chris use it for the first time he told him he was destined to become the artist he himself had always dreamed of being.School never truly captured DeRubeis’ attention. Instead of equations he filled his math tests with drawn figures. Instead of essays he sketched landscapes. Teachers warned him he was going down the wrong path, but he never strayed from his artistic focus. He continued painting every chance he had, even taking extra art classes during lunch. At twenty he attended both the Pasadena Art Center and Associates in Art in Sherman Oaks. He paid his tuition by painting custom Harleys and running a successful party T-shirt business. His professors encouraged him to choose a more commercial direction but he was never satisfied creating work that looked like everyone else’s.Those who know him will tell you he has never followed the herd. He found many traditional styles uninteresting. He was searching for something new and undiscovered. One day in his workshop that breakthrough arrived. While grinding paint off a Harley gas tank he noticed the way light moved across the exposed metal. Each pass of the grinder uncovered patterns that seemed to shimmer and move like a living surface.This moment changed everything.He rushed to a metal shop, gathered scrap sheets and began experimenting. He tested different tools to shape the light across the metal. He added chemicals and pigments to create reactions that brought the surface to life. Through these experiments he developed a style unlike anything seen before.Abstract Sensualism was born. DeRubeis explains that he favors metal because it allows him to combine sculpture with painting. The texture and motion become part of the expression and give him a way to communicate emotion with greater intensity. He believes art should inspire, evoke feeling and be something you can physically sense.When he first introduced his work to galleries the reaction was cautious. No one had seen anything like it. That uncertainty did not last long. Collectors and galleries quickly recognized the innovation and began requesting his work across the country.In 2005 his art received two nominations at the First Annual Fine Art Awards televised from the MGM in Las Vegas. He was nominated in both Mixed Media and New Movement and ultimately received the MUSE Award for New Movement. It was during this moment that he became known as The Father of the Conceptual Movement. He dedicated the award to his grandfather, who had passed away only months earlier. By 2009 his work was in high demand and he became one of the most sought after artists in the contemporary market. Today his pieces are showcased in high-end galleries throughout the United States and collected internationally.In 2023 DeRubeis was chosen to create the official sixtieth anniversary painting for Lamborghini, a brand he had admired since childhood. The finished work now resides in the Lamborghini Museum in Sant Agata, Italy. For DeRubeis the opportunity to contribute to the legacy of such an iconic name was both humbling and deeply meaningful.His ability to evolve and push boundaries continues to define Abstract Sensualism as a major artistic movement. Many have attempted to imitate his techniques but none have matched the motion, energy or depth that characterize his work. As DeRubeis says, you will not find what he creates in any art school yet. His pieces are almost always presented unframed. When asked why they are floated he answers with a smile and simply says, why not. Beyond the studio DeRubeis enjoys spending time with his family and traveling with his children. He is a devoted Lakers fan and rarely misses a game. His creativity extends into the kitchen where he experiments with flavors and cooking techniques. He also enjoys wine tasting and approaches the craft of winemaking the same way he approaches his art by exploring depth, complexity and expression.