Oil Painting

April 2, 2025

Artist Explores the Depths of Human Emotion Through Striking Oil Paintings

Istanbul-born, Santa Monica-based artist Reyhan Gulses Demircioglu brings human emotion to life through her striking large-scale oil paintings. Blending realism with expressive, abstract backgrounds, she places her subjects in moody, evocative scenes that tell a story beyond the canvas. “My work explores the intersection of realism and introspection, often capturing moments that feel both intimate and timeless,” Demircioglu tells My Modern Met.

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March 6, 2025

Artist Paints Floral Portraiture That Celebrates Life’s Continuity [Interview]

For the California-based artist Jess Currier, flowers aren’t just beautiful: they’re also critical symbols of resilience, of trials and triumphs, of grief and joy. In a word, they’re evocative reminders of life’s continuity. It naturally follows, then, that Currier’s work revolves around humanity’s relationship to nature. For years, the artist has combined floral imagery and portraiture, reimagining the limits of the classical style.

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February 21, 2025

Amy Sherald’s Powerful Portraits Take Over the Whitney Museum

Acclaimed portrait artist Amy Sherald, widely known for her oil portraits of Michelle Obama and Breonna Taylor, is holding her first major museum survey at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Opening in April, the survey includes around 50 paintings that demonstrate her early work as well as the striking portraits of Black Americans that have become her calling card. American Sublime firmly positions Sherald as one of America's most significant contemporary artists.

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January 25, 2025

Artist Paints Desert Scenes Interrupted by Enchanting Glitch and Pixel Effects

For an artist, the desert must resemble a canvas. Just as vast, intimate, and untouched, the desert provides a sense of possibility that has attracted renowned figures such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Diego Rivera, and Ansel Adams. It has also served as a rich source of inspiration for Alexis Mata. As with his predecessors, the Mexico City-based artist also prioritizes abstract imagery in his desert scenes.

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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.