“Luminal Space for sub-Identity, non-specific attributes, vague self-reference, vacant soul containers, Identity portraiture, transactional apparitions, persona non grata, the vacant expression and the hidden soul.” Brief sudden portraits from the About Face Collection.
“The About Face Collection reimagines the tradition of portraiture by presenting non-existent, anonymous subjects—faces that evoke identity but resist being fully known. It reflects on the historical role of portraiture as a marker of legacy and self, and contrasts this with the fluidity of the self in the modern world, where identity is often fragmented or obscured. In these paintings, the viewer is invited to confront not just the likeness, but the absence and the potential of each face, questioning the boundaries between representation and non-existence.”
Breaking Down the Key Ideas:
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Contrast to Traditional Portraiture: I started by acknowledging the history of portraiture—its roots in capturing real people, often powerful or influential figures, whose faces became symbols of legacy. My departure from this tradition implied the work was not focused on well-known or living individuals, but rather anonymous or fictional faces.
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Anonymity and Non-Existence: The idea of portraying non-existent individuals touches on the tension between representation and absence. Exploring the boundaries of identity, suggesting that these faces are implied or evoked but not fully realized. This absence is a key part of this exploration—where identity is more fluid, transitory, or even ghostly.
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The Unseen and Unspoken: This reflects the idea that these paintings go beyond simple physical likeness to something deeper—psychological or emotional states that may not be immediately visible. These portraits might evoke a sense of alienation, fragmentation, or transition, which points to the hidden layers of identity, often overlooked in conventional portraiture.
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Invitation to Reflection: Finally, they invite the viewer to engage with these images not just as portraits, but as mysterious spaces of identity, where the lines between self and other, individual and universal, blur. This transforms the notion of a portrait from a singular statement about a subject to a universal meditation on what it means to be seen, represented, and remembered.
#portraitpainting #portraits #napob #oilpainting
” Patterns Of Defense ” Oil on Canvas, 36 x 32 in., September 16th, 2015
” What I Remember Of Him ” Oil on Canvas, 36 x 32 in., August 4th, 2015
” Hazel’s Feminine Inspired Wisdom ” Oil on Canvas, 36 x 32 in., July 23rd, 2015
” Prisoner of History ” Oil on Canvas, 36 x 32 in., July 21st, 2015
” Memory Fog ” Oil on Canvas, 36 x 32 in., April 27th, 2015
” A Nice Sweater Can’t Fix This ” Oil on Canvas, 36 x 32 in., August 7th, 2015
These comments strikes a balance between acknowledging the rich history of portraiture and presenting your work as a contemporary meditation on the ephemeral, unfixed, and unseen aspects of identity, while also making clear that these faces are not bound to a specific individual but reflect a larger, universal engagement with the nature of self-representation.
” Mediterranean ” Oil on Canvas, 36 x 32 in., September 12th, 2015
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