Our thanks goes out to Rebecca for sending us her beautiful Van Eno painting.

This is Rebecca’s story:

In about 1985, I bought a painting at the local Lexington, Virginia  thrift store. I was about 14 at the time. It was $5 which was a lot  to me, but I loved it and always have. It is a wild boar under a  tree with mountains in the background. It is painted on wood with a  wooden border that is splattered with teal and rust colors. I never knew who painted it, but I have hung it in my room during High School, college, and every home I have lived in. So I actually held it under the light and made out a signature that runs vertically along the side in the darkest part of the painting. I got online and Googled VANENO and came across your site  for Van Eno. I knew immediately that the bold jewel toned pieces on my computer screen were done by the same artist as My Piggy (which I affectionately call it). However, it was the very first block, bold signature on your page about the ways Van Eno signed his name that left no doubt in my mind.

Thanks Rebecca for sharing your story! I loved it.  You had a great eye for good work as a young teenager. Van’s paintings are not widely circulated as collectors tend to hold on to them. I think collectors become fondly attached to Van’s work like an old friend.

Here is a face photograph of Van. Many Thanks to Brooks from KWAM (keywestaids.org) who added this picture and a link to this site (check it out) and to Wesley Calvin. It has been over 20 years since I’ve seen Van’s face – though I did not know him well, I found him very focus and passionate with his artwork.

This is an interesting painting. Thank you Gallery On Greene for sending this picture. At first I wasn’t sure if this was an Eno painting but then I noticed his recognizable signature on the upper right side – masked within the green color. Its not a favorite of mine but I don’t dislike it.

The painting is Wild – the flaming hair, the feather necklace, the leopard-skin wrap around her waist – and is that a nipple ring on her left breast? Also – for a woman, she’s very masculine = Big Biceps and pecs rather than breast.

So – what do you think??? What story do you see from this painting? please share!

Wood Nymph – measure 24 x 20

Mammy – measure 24 x 20 (I’ve also seen it called Prickly Balls)

These 2 twin pictures were sent to me by Gallery on Greene – Thank you Nance. The 2 were for sale at $5,000 each. I believe one has already been sold.

The painting seems to be an earlier work of Van’s and already comes in a metallic frame. What attracts me to the pictures are the firey hair especially for Wood Nymph. It mirrors the firey shadow background.

What do you think of these twin pictures?

This is one of a series of paintings submitted from Gallery on Greene. Thank You Nance! A fascinating painting of a muscular saint piercing a serpent or large snake. My eyes seem to gravitate on the muscular contours of the saint’s legs, calves and buttocks. As you ascend the striped lycra outfit – one can see the defined, muscular chest, shoulders and arms. Further up above the head – a halo. The character is a Saint. Kinda give you a sense of the type of man Van may have been attracted to.

Closeup – I could not find Van’s signature but I do recognize the fruited trees that are very common in many of Van’s recent works.

Again – thank you Paul from Mexico for sharing this painting from his collection of Van Enos. This painting, Paul believe is called the White Angel, was created in 1984 (according to Van’s signature). And I agree with Paul’s assessment that it is very homoerotic. I like it. A winged muscle angel – full frontal. As you look at the picture, your eyes do descend to where the angel is focusing down on. His right hand is caressing his member. What a conversation piece this would be for Paul’s guests.

It has been known that Van had painted nude males with large phallases. I am a bit bewildered with the mass curly pubic that dominates the groin area. It is hard for me to decipher if this form of male is Van’s personal fantasy and attraction. Maybe in heaven, these are his angels.

Hi there! We are M&M – owners of this site and bloggers for the last year. We met each 9 years ago (in 1999) in a city card and book shop. We were both shopping for birthday cards at the time. Our eyes met, we smiled and in less than 24 hours, we had our first dinner date. Our initial dating relationship had our twist and turns, but in 2000, we reunited and this time it stuck. We exchanged our vows and rings in 2004.

We moved in together in 2001 and that is when Marc introduced me to his small collection of Van Eno’s art. We hung up his one favorite piece “Only Her Hairdresser Knows” in our living room – and still to this day, it graces the wall of our living room (we bought a new home together last year in 2007 – and right away, we knew where to hang this one painting).

I began to appreciate Van’s art as I got to learn about the man behind the paintings. The stories Marc had shared with me about his years down in Key West and meeting the artist. It was fascinating to hear about the apartment Marc lived in that was formerly occupied by the Artist himself.

Together, Marc and I started this website in hopes to connect and communicate with other collectors and fans of Van Eno. I hope this site will make Van proud!

Sorry – this is the only existing picture I have of Van. The caption below the pic reads: Richard Heyman (left) and Van Eno. Richard was the owner of the Gingerbread Gallery and the mayor of Key West at that time. The curator from KWAHS (Key West Art and Historical Society) mailed me this copy of Van’s obiturary in the newspaper. This news clipping was old and faded.

In November of 1982, Van was recognized as the Stage Designer for the show Godspell (at the Waterfront Playhouse). This piece of memorabilia was forwarded to me (again) by Nance from the Gallery on Greene.

Unfortunately, I don’t have much information about these pieces. The owner of these memorabilias wish to remain private and I respect that. Thank you for providing these to the Gallery.

Here’s another:

Claire Restaurant on Duvall Street. I remember Claire’s. I use to bartend and waiter for that restaurant. It was own by Marvin Paige (he is the one who coined Hamburger Mary’s famous on the east coast).

I love this Painting! Immensely rich with color and reminiscent of a Fairy Tale. I’m encaptivated by how the focal piece – the archer, is enveloped by dense vegetation. It captures some sillyness with the archer’s hip-stance and the tiny bow. Love it!

Thank you Nance from the Gallery on Greene (Key West Florida) for contributing this picture. Since 2006, Nance has been a wonderful support in my efforts to communicate about the life and share the art of Van Eno. She too is a fan.

Checkout her Gallery on Greene Street in the Historic Seaport of Key West. The Gallery is a leader in the field of representational fine art, paintings, photographs, reproductions and sculptures from Key West & The Florida Keys.