David Ely is an abstract, visual, and audio artist, currently residing and contributing to the community of Venice, C.A. Growing up with deep roots in the San Diego, California D.I.Y. surf, skate, art, and philosophical scene of the ’60s, he has always been in movement between water, land, and self-expression. After graduating from Berklee College Of Music in Boston, he forged an international path for himself and moved from adventure to adventure around the world, playing music, throwing community-based art and music events, and developing his distinct, aesthetic-based, cultural lens.
This unique path through life undoubtedly shows within his work and his current mantra reads as such; “I create considered color, shape, and texture to better represent the times we live in. My pieces are for the bold, forward thinkers, who support self-expression, community, and the avant-garde.”
Life is colorful and abstract, and Ely believes in channeling our energy and purpose to report on that, as honestly as possible; it’s a lifelong pursuit. Timeless art is honest and considered and that’s what we all must strive for; honesty within ourselves. Currently, Ely has an art studio in Venice where he hosts his gallery and throws live, jazz-based, mixed-medium art shows, featuring local and international talent. He also invests time and energy into teaching and writing lectures on creativity, intuition, and channeling the unique, ever-evasive, flow state. In today’s diluted, smoke-and-mirrors culture, honest self-expression has never shined more valid and more timeless.
San Diego, C.A. // Photo: Heidi Flumm
Live session, Los Angeles, C.A. // Photo: Heidi Flumm
Orange County, C.A. // Photo: Jonathan Savage
Baja, Mexico. // Photo: Heidi Flumm
Hot Sands, Los Angeles, California // Photo: Heidi Flumm
"Robby The Racoon" Byron Bay, Australia. Photo: Benson Keers
Upcycle Inspo, Melbourne, Australia. // Photo: Benson Keers // Design: DAPOOLARTY
Pretentious As Fuck (PAFF) Australia. 2017 // Photo: Jonah Marc Levine
Melbourne, Australia // Photo: DAPOOLPARTY
Vessel Drum Co., San Diego, C.A. // Photo: TNR Products
Hot Sands, Los Angeles, California // Photo: Heidi Flumm
DAPOOLPARTY, Byron Bay, Australia. // Photo: Benson Keers
"Senate" Lighting, Australia. // Photo: Benson Keers
Pretentious As Fuck ( PAFF) Byron Bay, Australia. // Photo: Benson Keers
Keybumps, Byron Bay, Australia. // Photo: Benson Keers
Live session w Lafayette, San Diego, California // Photo: Heidi Flumm
Speakeasy, San Diego, California. // Photo: Heidi Flumm
Hot Sands, Los Angeles, California. // Photo: Heidi Flumm
Keybumps, Byron Bay, AUS. // Photo: Benson Keers
Pre-production at Rocking Horse Studios, Byron Bay, Australia. 2018 // Photo: Heidi Flumm
Moonz Music, Los Angeles, C.A. // Photo: Heidi Flumm
Melbourne Australia. // Photo: Shavae Flavour
DAPOOLPARTY Album art.
Upcycle Inspo art exhibit, Melbourne, Australia.
Speakeasy with Kevin Cooper, San Diego, California. // Photo: Heidi Flumm
Photo: Matt Farrington
Pretentious As Fuck, Howl And Moan Records, Australia. // Photo: Benson Keers
Pretentious As Fuck, Howl And Moan Records, Australia. // Photo: Benson Keers
TBone, Los Angeles, California // Photo: Heidi Flumm
Paint Off, Melbourne Australia. 2019
Byron Bay, Aus. // Photo: Heidi Flumm