Art & Portraits
36 articles
A portrait is a work of art that documents the likeness of a person or creature that’s alive or has been alive. In fine art, in particular, portraits are pieces of artwork, which can be photographs, painting, sculptures, or any other portraiture of a human being, often with the face of the person as the central theme.
The subject of a portrait art can be an individual or a group, such as a team or family. The most common types of portrait works of art include self-portraits (portraits of the artists by the artists), group portraits, and the classic portrait of a single person.
They usually depict the subject either full-body, half-length, or head & shoulders (aka passport portraits). And they can be figurative, abstract, or realistic.
Six years. That is the amount of time Sebastião Salgado spent capturing the story of migration, the migrant crisis, individual heart-stopping moments in the never-ending migration and exile of humans. Exodus is a poignant collection that adds photographic evidence and storytelling of humanity on the move. When he started this documentation in 1993, Sebastião traveled […]
Sebastião Salgado’s Exodus – The stories of global migration Read More
Themes of Gillian Wearing’s work Gillian Wearing has made a successful career as an artist that spans decades from creating candid photos and videos that reveal the disconnect that exists in people’s personal and inner lives versus their public personas or what they show the rest of the world. Her works also highlight the disconnect
What did Gillian Wearing’s Signs say? Read More
Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra utilizes photography in a way that many other contemporary artists do not. Not only do her photographs take on certain characteristics of paintings, but the subjects included appear to be a lot more present and unmediated in accurate and uncontaminated detail. Rineke Dijkstra was born in 1959 in the Netherlands, where
Do Rineke Dijkstra’s Beach Portraits stand the test of time? Read More
Lu Guang is an award-winning Chinese photojournalist and has done a lot of documentary projects highlighting social, economic and environmental issues and injustices. This renowned photojournalist’s exposures on pollution and environmental destruction have long been underreported in China due to the government’s penchant to mete out punishment to such activists. Due to his work documenting
Lu Guang & pollution: Chinese regime doesn’t want you to see this Read More
Yue Minjun’s style is easily be recognized. His self-portrait oil paintings depict himself in vivid colors while grinning with his mouth gaping. An oxymoron of sorts, the self-portraits evoke feelings of sympathy as well as humor. The depictions of himself in various poses laughing draw numerous diverse interpretations. However, the general consensus is that while
Do Yue Minjun’s self portraits make you laugh? Read More
Erwin Wurm is undoubtedly one of Austria’s and one of the world’s most recognizable artists. Using social taboos and absurd scenarios to create his thought-provoking work, Wurm’s artworks have broken boundaries and changed how people approach and view art in contemporary society. How to be politically incorrect How to be Politically Incorrect consists of a
Erwin Wurm is politically incorrect on purpose – Humans in awkward poses Read More
Sebastiao Salgado’s Workers is an exceptional photography series and book, thanks to its detail in men at work in the lowest levels and harshest conditions. His work shows solidarity with the world’s poorest societies. He seeks to recognize and appreciate the isolated peasants and refugees who represent a large portion of humankind. Salgado focuses on
Sebastião Salgado’s dramatic Workers photos – Overworked & underpaid Read More
During his lifetime, Andy Warhol was always allied with the notion of celebrity. Andy Warhol understood the allure of global celebrity and its effects on contemporary society long before gossip blogs were even a thing. Even more pointedly was his fascination with starlets, it-girls, and famous actresses of that time whom he would often immortalize
Why did Andy Warhol paint Marilyn Monroe? Read More
If you are a fan of Pieter Hugo, the chances are that you recognize his award-winning work, including the acclaimed 2007 series The Hyena and the Other Men. He’s also known for photographing men harvesting honey in a Ghanaian forest, teenage laborers working at an electronic dumpsite just outside of Accra, and weary diamond miners
Pieter Hugo’s 1994 – Kids in times of uncertainty Read More
After being exposed to numerous renderings and 3d models of Dubailand, a new place near Dubai, photographer Aleix Plademunt decided to visit the place. Dubailand was compiled over a 3-month period that saw Aleix Pledemunt travel across the rich oasis of Dubai, which is a city that has come to be known for its opulent
Aleix Plademunt in Dubailand, the world’s most expensive theme park Read More
Between 1990 and 1992, photographer Philip-Lorca diCorcia made five trips to Los Angeles to take photos of male prostitutes in Hollywood. DiCorcia first approached his subjects in LA’s Boystown, located in West Hollywood. Instead of having sexual activities, diCorcia offered to pay after getting photographs of them. The best spots for Hustlers Before making an
Philip-Lorca diCorcia – The faces of the hustlers of Hollywood Read More
Steve McCurry is no stranger to success, having built a name for himself as one of the world’s most respected photographers. He has won numerous international awards and acclaim for his consistent and impactful repertoire and has sold books in the millions across the world. In particular, some of his most talked-about works are his
Steve McCurry’s monsoon photos from India & beyond – Devastatingly real Read More
Photographer John Feely embarked on a trip to discover the otherworldly landscapes of Western Mongolia and came back with fascinating works. The emerging Australian photographer was based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for the duration of his project and his allegorical approach to photography has helped him to quickly create a name for himself as a respected
John Feely’s Outsider – Harsh Mongolian landscapes Read More
Philippe Chancel’s photographs from North Korea are simply remarkable. Chancel joins the ranks of the few photographers in the world that have actually managed to document the impenetrable nation of North Korea. For more than half a century, this enigma of a country has been the personification of a rogue state; North Korea is an
Philippe Chancel & Eerie North Korea – A look behind the curtain Read More
Photographer Steve McCurry has been traveling to various parts of the globe photographing and capturing different subjects and people. His photography has led him down hidden pathways and streets, searching for what he calls the magic moment when color, light, and emotion work together in perfect harmony to create a beautiful picture. His search is
Steve McCurry’s magic India moments – Glamorous & worrying Read More
Pieter Hugo is one of South Africa’s most recognizable photographers most notably known today for his Hyena and Other Men series. During his nascent career, he was mainly practicing photojournalism before realizing he was not doing enough with his skills. He wanted to get more involved and engaged, to aggressively cross-examine the voyeuristic scrutiny that
Pieter Hugo’s Hyena Men – Fascinating photos from Nigeria Read More
Usually, life is viewed from the perspective of people as they appear in public. It is not unusual to come across a rich-looking individual only to realize that their background or where they call home is not as lavish. When what we consider normal is transformed inside out, a whole new dynamism of sights emerges.
Huang Qingjun’s intimate portraits of Chinese families – Family Stuff Read More
Braco Dimitrijević’s Casual Passer-By series are a series of canvas-based photographs created as from 1971. The works feature large-scale images of people that the artist met in the streets. Each piece comes with the exact time and place where the artist met with the person. However, he did not always put the exact date. These
Braco Dimitrijević’s casual passersby – These people are not famous Read More
