Man, I missed the news when Venosa died, and only recently heard about our loss.
The man was a true visionary.
Venosa was well known and respected in psychedelic art circles, having studied with Mati Klarwein and Ernst Fuchs. He later became friends with Salvador Dalí and was the one who introduced H.R. Giger to Dalí.
Venosa was a teacher as well as an artist. He and his partner, artist Martina Hoffman, travelled extensively conducting workshops in visionary art. Venosa also did images for LP & CD covers and work as a concept artist for the film industry. His collaboration with Mati Klarwein on Santana's Abraxas cover is legendary.
Here are a few more pics from him to honor his unbridled talent:
"Curiouser and curiouser..." ~ Alice
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it." ~ Buddha