All in Painting
Unveiling the dualities of life, my art thrives in the spaces of light and shadow, loss and hope, defiance and compliance. I employ rich, intense hues that beckon while challenging, orchestrating a magnetic tension within each piece. A distinctive union of acrylic, chalk, and oil pastel ignites a confrontation of textures and tones, amplifying the potency of the work.
Born in Bogotá - Colombia. Studied Art and Architectural Design at the Javeriana University. Studied drawing and painting at Cooperartes and with masters: David Manzur, Fernando Dávila and Miguel Moyano. Her work has been exhibited in important spaces in Colombia, United States, Europe and Asia. Has received national and international recognition.
Daniel McKinley's oeuvre presents a fascinating interplay of escape, time, and philosophy, painted in a style that masterfully melds the real with the surreal. His paintings are a pastiche of vivid hues and enigmatic spaces that invite viewers to step into an alternate reality where time is not linear and life's philosophy unfolds in layers of color and form.
As a kid I lived on and off with my Aunt who was a formally trained oil painter with a Masters in Fine Art and practiced in a high fantasy type of art with a lot of mythological themes in her works. I was always excited to occasionally peak into see in her studio and the progress she would make on rather large paintings. She was very into the renaissance period. I just remembered the scale and realism was always fascinating to me how she could achieve such types of work, it seemed you could almost feel the hairs on a head of a figure or the emotion conveyed in the facial expressions so clearly.
When I lived down by a river, I was inspired by my many walks along there, from different trees, rocks, and an old shipyard with old metal pieces. One day, while I was walking down there , I saw an image on a concrete wall that looked like a bird, and I spent many days digitally painting it until I was satisfied with it.
We are proud to present our First Printed Issue 1
"Top Contemporary Artists to Watch in 2024."
This curated publication showcases a carefully selected group of artists whose visionary work promises to define and influence the World's Contemporary art scene in 2024.
Leticia Herrera's "Walkers" series is a striking visual narrative that explores the multifaceted journey of humanity through a vibrant and textured tapestry of oil impasto. The series, a collection of paintings featuring diminutive human figures set against vast, often gradient backgrounds, speaks to the profound search for identity, purpose, and connection that defines the human experience.
PJ Riley's oeuvre is a fascinating amalgamation of abstract expressionism and narrative storytelling, which together forge a compelling visual language that speaks to the contemporary soul. The artist's style is deeply rooted in the expressive potential of color, form, and composition, creating artworks that are not just visually arresting but also emotionally resonant. The use of color in Riley's work is both bold and nuanced. Vibrant hues clash and harmonize within the same canvas, suggesting a world where emotion and thought are rendered visible.
Leigh Witherell has carved out a distinctive niche with her emotionally charged and abstract creations. Her work is a vivid exploration of melancholy, a poignant examination of the human condition that connects with viewers on a deeply personal level. Each piece is not just a visual encounter but an emotional dialogue, inviting introspection and reflection.
I'm an autodidact when it comes to LIFE in general. I'm curious and eager to discover, and reducing myself to an academic approach doesn't suit me. I've evolved with courage, hard work and passion, over the course of my life as a woman artist, giving myself the freedom to create my own writing and offering myself the challenge of not resembling anyone by not locking myself into an academicism or fashion. At the start of my career, this may have seemed inconsistent to art professionals, but over time it has become an asset of authenticity.
In the realm of contemporary art, Kathy Stanley emerges as a profound conduit for the thematic interplay between ecopsychology and the rising feminine spirit. Her oeuvre, deeply rooted in the rich soil of her Jamaican heritage and nurtured by the diverse landscapes of the Cascadia Bioregion, embodies an intuitive dance between mixed media and acrylics, manifesting as visual hymns to the Earth's magnificence and spiritual wisdom.
Matei Vogel's oeuvre, upon contemplation, evokes a visceral response that stands as a testament to his profound understanding of abstract art's capacity to resonate on an intuitive level, much like the universal language of music. Vogel's approach to painting, with its deliberate eschewing of representational fidelity, aligns him with the philosophical musings of Kandinsky and the expressive force of Abstract Expressionists like Rothko and Pollock. However, Vogel's work carves a unique niche, characterized by a palpable tension between the visible and the invisible, the known and the unknowable, resonating with the emotive power of music.
Since 2018, Teresa has attended painting classes in Padua. During the 2020 lockdown, she experienced an intense creative period that led her to consider painting as an essential part of her life. She participated in group exhibitions in Italy, Europe, and the United States, and she exhibited her artworks in two solo exhibitions in Italy. Three Galleries in New York represent her.
Sabrina Villaseñor emerges as an artist whose work is a contemporary homage to the rich tapestry of pre-Hispanic culture, weaving its ancient symbols, figures, and forms into the modern fabric of fine art. Her paintings are visual narratives that speak of a profound search for cultural identity and heritage, bringing to life the ineffable voices of a past that refuses to be silenced by the progression of time.
The oeuvre of Petra Mattes represents a bold and dynamic foray into the realms of contemporary abstraction, a genre that continues to evolve and challenge the perceptive boundaries of its audience. Her work, characterized by the emotive use of color, gestural brushstrokes, and a profound sense of movement, seems to marry the intensity of Neo-Expressionism with the unrestrained freedom of Abstract Expressionism, creating a new species of abstraction that stands out in the modern art landscape.
In the contemporary art scene, Kagan's paintings are a beacon of emotional and spiritual depth. In a world often dominated by irony and detachment, her sincerity and commitment to healing through art stand out. She offers a counter-narrative to the prevailing trends, one that embraces the transformative power of art to affect change on a personal and collective level.
Can you share your journey towards becoming a successful artist? Were there any pivotal moments or challenges that shaped your career?
For me, life in general offered both challenges as well as inspiration motivating my strive forth, inspiring ideas and need for expressing and sharing my personal and emotional expressions. I deem that growing under Communism sparked strong rebellious reactions against feeling of oppression and lack of freedom of speech. My artwork of that period was very defiant. Yet, once a wave of antisemitism swept my former country, these feelings intensified. A new sense of pride in who I am arouse. It further intensified when I found myself being chased by many of my own classmates, now former friends, whose eyes and minds were soiled by governmental propaganda. Rebelling against being seen as less equal, I chose to resign my citizenship, becoming a political refugee, departing as both stateless as well as a persona non grata.
Reflecting on the evolution of my artistic style, the trajectory of my work can be traced back to the initial inklings seen in the graduation poster I designed for the Elbigenalp carving school. The naivety of my 18-year-old self manifested in those early creations. Subsequent journeys to India acted as a catalyst, lifting the fog and providing clarity to my artistic vision. Over the years, my perspective has matured, resulting in refined brushstrokes and a clearer view of my artistic intent. While adhering to my fundamental approach in art, I have delved deeper into areas of interest, such as sacred geometry, Fibonacci sequences, and the philosophical and mythological underpinnings of symbols. These elements seamlessly integrate into my art, reinforcing my thematic focus on love, mysticism, and the supernatural—embodied by the motto "die to live."
When people ask me how long did it take you to make this painting I use to answer that it took me a lifetime because I started late in life to paint my response to the world around me; the people who inspire me and the elements of life that touch me.
I work with charcoal, acrylic, watercolor, cold wax, oil and encaustic, the latter being a very exciting material. It is the earliest known form of paint. It was first used by the Greeks over 2,000 years ago. Encaustic paint is beeswax and pigments mixed with a little damar resin. The damar raises the melting point of the beeswax, hardens it and gives the paint its unique optical depth to my portraitures.
My journey into the world of art is intricately woven with the influence of my mom and her innate creativity. From the very beginning, she provided a nurturing environment that encouraged exploration, imagination, and self-expression.
My mom, herself a creative soul, instilled in me a deep appreciation for the arts. Our home was filled with colors, textures, and a constant flow of creative energy. Whether it was her own artistic endeavors or exposing me to various forms of art, she cultivated an environment that fueled my curiosity and sparked my initial interest in the world of creativity.
