"Decree Denied" by Rob Santello

Siren Arts is honored to present artist Rob Santello in his first solo exhibition, featuring a provocative body of paintings that challenge cultural and sociopolitical hierarchies.

A self-taught artist, Santello’s artwork addresses frictions between high and low, sacred and profane, contemplation and consumption. Rather than resolving these tensions, Santello sustains them, highlighting repetitive imagery within his work that prioritizes concepts of accessibility and human connection.

Decree Denied seeks to explore artistic vision as cultural resistance. Functioning as both a critique and creative manifesto that rejects the divisive nature of present-day politics, the work featured embraces our common humanity. One example is Santello’s painting “Jamaican Nine Night,” referencing a traditional community gathering to honor and celebrate the deceased.

Decree Denied creates space for open dialogue in challenging conventional boundaries between art and life. Seeking to foster connection across cultural and political divides, the exhibition demonstrates how art can serve as a unifying force that celebrates what binds us together, rather than what pulls us apart.

About the Artist: Born in New Jersey and currently based in Neptune, this self-taught artist began his career in New York City, initially inspired by the torn collages and wheat-pasted graffiti of urban walls. His practice centers on intuitive discovery, working rapidly to bypass ego and remain open to unexpected directions that emerge during the creative process. Each piece captures a meditative moment where being unfocused becomes the focus itself. Above all, his art prioritizes honesty over convention, embracing the revelations that come from diving headfirst into artistic exploration.