Venus Angelica Perez

“Most of my art comes from my heart and my pain,” is how Venus Angelica Perez describes her inspiration for her works. Those themes run throughout the former Marine’s writings, poetry, paintings and photographs.  

Venus, who grew up in Bensonhurst, NY, joined the Marine Corps to escape a troubled youth that included drugs. Her plan was to join the FBI after her four years. But a back injury suffered during basic training, which Venus kept hidden at the time, altered her life.

Eventually the pain took over her life, and Venus found comfort in God and a paintbrush. Venus says she loved to doodle as a child, but the discovery of being able to paint through her darkest hours opened up a new world.

This past spring, Venus had her first book published, Mentality Listens, a compilation of poetry that chronicles her pain.  The deeply spiritual disabled veteran remains optimistic with her message that it is possible to live with pain and create something beautiful in the process.

Venus’ dream is “to try out all there is to art, each form of art.” She has her eyes set next on knitting and pottery. If being an ardent soccer fan can also be considered an art form, Venus has already mastered that.

Venus, whose husband is a soccer referee, started a podcast for soccer fans, especially DC United fans. She also has a dedicated website for her soccer passion called DCU4LIFE.

Her enthusiasm for life and the arts are infectious. She says, “Art is to create something out of nothing and the possibilities are endless. My advice is that everyone should at least try one form of art in their lifetime.”

We couldn’t agree more, thanks, Venus.

For more about Venus Perez and her works, please check out http://blessedbklynite.com/