Hyperrealistic Oil Paintings Explore What We Hide and Share

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Since the introduction of social media, there has been more pressure than ever to present an idealized version of ourselves. New York-based artist Tigran Tsitoghdzyan explores this phenomenon in his ongoing series of hyperrealistic portraits, titled Mirror. Rendered in a limited grayscale color palette, these paintings depict different women covering their faces with their hands. Except, rather than hiding their features, we are able to see through their hands.

Tsitoghdzyan was inspired to embark on this series after seeing the rise of selfies among young people, particularly younger women. “The filters became so popular that many girls can't imagine posting a selfie unfiltered,” he tells My Modern Met. “The cellphone cameras even have algorithms and recognize the selfie through a filter on your face. The young generation doesn't like camera pictures anymore as they are so used to seeing themselves through their phone.”

This idea of what people filtered and embellished on their faces led Tsitoghdzyan to Mirror. Each of these black and white paintings focuses on the head of an individual, which has been blown up to an extremely large scale of at least 7 feet, and sometimes bigger. Using traditional techniques, Tsitoghdzyan portrays each figure in an idealized way—hiding the texture of their skin, and enhancing their makeup where necessary so they seem naturally perfect. “Covering the face with your hands is the most natural movement we do to hide anything since our childhood, but I still wanted to see the faces through—questioning what we hide and what we share,” he explains.

Scroll down to see more of Tsitoghdzyan's paintings and keep up to date with his latest projects by following the artist on Instagram.

New York-based artist Tigran Tsitoghdzyan creates hyperrealistic portraits.

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

These black and white paintings depict women covering their faces with their hands.

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Even though they are covering their faces, we can still see their faces.

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

This series, titled Mirror, explores what we share and what we hide.

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

These women are portrayed the way they want to be seen.

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Paintings of a Person Covering Their Face With Hands by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan

Tigran Tsitoghdzyan: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Tigran Tsitoghdzyan.

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Margherita Cole

Margherita Cole is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and illustrator based in Southern California. She holds a BA in Art History with a minor in Studio Art from Wofford College, and an MA in Illustration: Authorial Practice from Falmouth University in the UK. She wrote and illustrated an instructional art book about how to draw cartoons titled 'Cartooning Made Easy: Circle, Triangle, Square' that was published by Walter Foster in 2022.
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