Artist: Emilio Villalba

 Emilio Villalba:


A Southern California native, Emilio Villalba received his BFA from the Art Institute of California in 2006, and his MFA in Painting from the Academy of Art University in 2011. He currently lives and works in San Francisco, CA.


A now San Francisco-based painter Emilio Villalba creates abstract portraits inspired by the precision of master works from the past. His paintings are set against white backgrounds that partially cover or obscure large clusters of diverse, hyperrealistic eyes, which are each painted from photographs of posed family members or friends. Villalba feels more comfortable capturing the feelings in familiar subjects’ faces rather than strangers, an element which he presents in his emotive work. 

https://emiliovillalbaart.com/cv/ 

“Subtle shifts, repetition, (re)placement, or absence of facial features are attempts to create a feeling of dissonance and pressure in the viewer,” Villalba explains in an artist statement. “I want someone to be drawn in by the uncanny nature of a piece and still feel safe to explore the feelings and reactions the pressure gives rise to.” (Follow for link to statement). 



I personally find his work interesting due to its power to convey a feeling of unease. I also enjoy his use of colour to define certain areas whilst leaving certain areas blank for the viewers own mind to fill in.




Relating to my own practice, I hope to add the use of seemingly random eyes and facial features to create a sense of unease as well as attempt to learn from his use of space in his work and how I can convey that in my own. 




I also love the hyper-real elements he uses in direct contrast to the colour pallet as well as the abstract nature of the work its self, leaving the viewer both stunned and confused. 

Overall I want to add more of this into my own work so as to create my desired effects of confusion and awed disgust similar to the one Villalba is able to create. 















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