Bryten Goss

Bryten Goss' ability to paint first emerged when he was five and the significance of that early developmental period was not lost on those who would later recognize his true potential. Under such burgeoning talent, Goss understandably began searching for his lifetime vocation in his early teens, ultimately deciding to follow his first true love: painting.

When asked during an interview what led him into painting, he described sitting on his mother's lap while she painted and being overwhelmed as a teenager by a rough Cezanne portrait at the Norton Simon Museum, a moment that made him realize the emotional force of fine art.

A self-taught painter, Goss traveled the world in search of impressionistic material and soon became known among patrons for oils, pastels, and deeply figurative works with striking emotional communication.

He moved far beyond any single subject: from nude studies to the dynamic Triumph of Death series, then to city fires, self-portraits like Guilt and Me & Little Me, and the powerful Pigs and Popes works including Alex on Pig, Women on Pigs, The Little Pope, and The Blind Leading the Blind.

A prolific artist, his collectors included Nicolas Cage, Kevin Smith, Jason Lee, Nick Nolte, Winona Ryder, Juliette Lewis, Giovanni Ribisi, Ben Foster, and many others. From private shows in 1993 through major events in Los Angeles, his profile rose quickly while remaining rooted in artistic rigor.

In later years he turned to etching, studying old master techniques to produce finely crafted dry points and prints. He completed major commissions, including Women Riding Pigs, and continued preparing exhibitions despite declining health. He passed away on October 26, 2006, leaving a body of work still recognized for uncommon force, beauty, and honesty.