Home / Art

Empowering Portraits Inspired by Byzantine Art Embellished With Gold and Precious Stones

Gustav Klimt Inspired Gilded Portraits by Tawny Chatmon

Photography-based artist Tawny Chatmon is known for her intimate photographic portraits that are often adorned in a gilded splendor reminiscent of a Gustav Klimt painting. However, for her latest series If I’m No Longer Here, I Wanted You to Know, the artist actually drew much of her inspiration from Byzantine art and religious iconography. “Historically, gold was reserved for those of importance,” Chatmon tells My Modern Met, and this portrait series is centered around the people most important to her.

“I do not wish to wait for the perfect time, the perfect place, or the perfect day to express my love for family and friends,” Chatmon expresses in her artist’s statement for these gilded portraits. And she tells My Modern Met a little more about the experiences that inspired this series: “I worked on this body of work during the lockdown while we were all adjusting to the pandemic and more social unrest. So many thoughts ran rampant, especially mortality and the importance of ‘giving people their flowers’ while you and they are still here. I thought about my children, my community, and the world as a whole. On the one hand, I feel blessed to experience this life, and, at the same time, I feel urgent concern due to the daily occurrences in the world around us.”

Chatmon channels those kinds of deep thoughts and feelings into her art and uses them to fuel her inspiration. After a portrait session—where the sitter is usually someone close to her—she refines and prints each digitally enhanced photo, which serves as the first layer for a piece. The artist then embellishes the portraits with overlapping layers of acrylic paint and 24-karat gold leaf. Several works in this series are also ornamented with semi-precious stones, glass, and other mixed media. The regal, elongated figures glitter and sparkle in their gilt finery, posed in striking postures evocative of the tenderness and warmth shared in their bonds of love and friendship.

“For those who encounter my work, I want them to stop and pay attention,” Chatmon says. “Similar to works created during the Byzantine period, I would like them to have a spiritual experience. I’d like them to reflect, to look within, and for something inside of them to awaken or expand. I’d hope that they would experience feelings of grace, celebration, and magnificence and for the imagery to remain with them forever.”

To see more of Chatmon's magnificent work, visit the artist's website or follow her on Instagram. In the meantime, scroll down to see more incredible portraits from her latest series, If I'm No Longer Here, I Wanted You to Know.

Photography-based artist Tawny Chatmon drew much of her inspiration for her latest gilded portrait series from Byzantine art.

Gustav Klimt Inspired Gilded Portraits by Tawny Chatmon

Gustav Klimt Inspired Gilded Portraits by Tawny Chatmon

Gustav Klimt Inspired Gilded Portraits by Tawny Chatmon

"If I'm No Longer Here, I Wanted You to Know" Gold Leaf Portrait Photography Series

Since gold was traditionally reserved for figures of importance, she wanted to use the precious metal to highlight those most important to her.

"If I'm No Longer Here, I Wanted You to Know" Gold Leaf Portrait Photography Series

Gustav Klimt Inspired Gilded Portraits by Tawny Chatmon

"If I'm No Longer Here, I Wanted You to Know" Gold Leaf Portrait Photography Series

"If I'm No Longer Here, I Wanted You to Know" Gold Leaf Portrait Photography Series

The photography portraits are embellished with layers of acrylic paint, 24-karat gold leaf, and even semi-precious stones in a style reminiscent of Gustav Klimt.

Gustav Klimt Inspired Gilded Portraits by Tawny Chatmon

Gustav Klimt Inspired Gilded Portraits by Tawny Chatmon

"If I'm No Longer Here, I Wanted You to Know" Gold Leaf Portrait Photography Series

"If I'm No Longer Here, I Wanted You to Know" Gold Leaf Portrait Photography Series

Tawny Chatmon: Website | Instagram | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Tawny Chatmon.

Related Articles:

Glittering Gold Portraits Celebrate the Beauty of Black Hair in the Style of Gustav Klimt Paintings

Dazzling Gold Leaf Details Illuminate Mysterious Portraits of Otherworldly Women

Why Artists Use Gold Leaf and How You Can Make Your Own Ethereal Paintings

10 Gold Leaf Crafts To Try if You Can’t Get Enough Of the Shiny Mineral

Arnesia Young

Arnesia Young is a contributing writer for My Modern Met and an aspiring art historian. She holds a BA in Art History and Curatorial Studies with a minor in Design from Brigham Young University. With a love and passion for the arts, culture, and all things creative, she finds herself intrigued by the creative process and is constantly seeking new ways to explore and understand it.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits

Sponsored Content