The artist_
About John Safana
John Safana is a multidisciplinary artist from Pontiac, Michigan. His work combines acrylic, oil pastel, gesso, sand, flour, yarn, ink, and found materials to build textured, layered compositions that explore distortion, identity, and perception. Drawing from influences in abstract, neo-expressionism, and cubism, Safana’s pieces often feature fractured faces, warped environments, and emotionally charged surfaces.
His process is instinctive — no sketches, no planning. Each work evolves through impulse and tension, balancing clarity with disorder.
Safana’s art has been exhibited at Tangent Gallery in Detroit and El Piqasso Art Cafe in Pontiac. His paintings are held in private collections across the Midwest, including by gallery owners and collectors in Chicago. He is a member of the Detroit Fine Arts Breakfast Club and co-founder of The Grundy Project, a nonprofit that supports emerging artists through exhibitions, resources, and mentorship.
This site features a rotating selection of original works, available directly from the artist.