Ian and Oliver Hartt Diptych, Portraits, 2016

Ramonn Vieitez  

This striking artwork is a diptych featuring two contrasting portraits. On the left, a person with pale, silvery hair gazes contemplatively to the side, set against a textured background that complements their calm demeanor. The precise detailing in their clothing and skin tones conveys realism, merging with an abstract undertone. On the right, a dramatic and expressive portrait commands attention. Adorned with bold red makeup and stark white face paint, the figure exudes intensity and theatrical flair. The crimson collar, adorned with cross motifs, draws the viewer's eye, enhancing the bold contrast with the grayscale backdrop. This juxtaposition is striking, emphasizing themes of introspection versus extroversion, and conventional versus avant-garde aesthetics. The artwork captivates with its meticulous technique and vibrant narrative contrast, inviting viewers to explore the complexities of identity and expression.

Ramonn Vieitez is a self-taught Brazilian artist who primarily utilizes painting as a field of creative possibility exploring themes such as identity, memory, and nature, compulsively producing works of astonishing lyricism, melancholy, and, perhaps most importantly, sincerity. As a queer individual, he playfully engages with a stunning variety of references but shares the conviction that painting can yield intimate and revelatory forms of expression. His works convey a sense of energy and movement, existing between figuration and imagined landscapes – they serve as windows to luminous, vibrant, and melancholic places. His production arises from the desire for understanding and the construction of an honest memory, a quest to reveal suppressed desires and lost truths. 

Watercolor and Gouache on canvas Overall size: 15.7 H x 23.6 W in. Individual Size: 15.7 H x 11.8 W in. Signed on the back by the artist.