Painting

June 19, 2020

Powerful Embroidered Portraits Shine Light on Targeted Women of Color [Interview]

Artist Nneka Jones creates portraits highlighting women of color who have suffered injustices in the world. Some abuses are overt while others are ingrained in the fabric of our society and therefore often go overlooked. But to the people in her mixed media and embroidered portraits, the effects are traumatic. The Black women and girls depicted in Jones’ work are victims of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.

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June 16, 2020

Nigerian Artist Paints Realistic Portraits of People Breaking Free From Clear Plastic

Nigerian artist Silas Onoja doesn't create ordinary portraits of people. His large-scale paintings take his skills to another level while simultaneously forcing the viewer to interpret what's before them. Each figure is presented, wrapped in or breaking free from a plastic film, absolutely drenched. He emphasizes the delicate textures of human skin doused by droplets of water and the mesmerizing way in which transparent material clings to the body.

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May 31, 2020

Dazzling Nighttime Cityscapes Are Reimagined as Beautiful Bokeh-Style Paintings

In his series of abstract paintings, artist Philip Barlow translates the fleeting moments often seen through out-of-focus camera lenses. This common photography phenomenon called the bokeh effect simplifies the background and subjects into colorful blurs of light. Although bokeh might be considered undesirable in photos, Barlow utilizes the geometric style in his paintings as a way to “capture ‘the moment,' a millisecond in time when everything lines up perfectly.

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May 30, 2020

Nomadic Artist Shares Her Extensive Travels Through Inky Watercolor Paintings

In 2017, Spanish artist Alicia Aradilla decided to embrace a nomadic lifestyle and travel the world. Instead of keeping a diary of her journeys, however, Aradilla began documenting the architecture, nature, and other memorable sites she saw—and continues to experience—in sketchbooks. The loose and expressive style of her miniature watercolor paintings capture the ephemeral feeling of seeing a site for the very first time. Aradilla's annotated artwork provides engaging imagery for her large Instagram following.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.