The desire to capture human likeness, whether realistically or in abstracted form, has enamored artists since the beginning of time. Some of the Old Masters that have made their way into our art history books were greatly inspired by the human form, with some focusing on the genre for their entire careers.
This includes the likes of Michelangelo, Picasso, Degas and Van Gogh. And of course we cannot forget to mention the most famous painted figure of all time, the iconic Mona Lisa, by the intellectual and deeply impassioned Leonardi da Vinci. The artist’s other iconic pieces, The Last Supper and the Vitruvian Man, embody intricate, human detail with incredibl precision, while simultaneously forming narrative.
Josh Sorrell, Storm, oil on panel, 36 x 36” Today, we see artists carrying on the traditions of the genre, while making it their very own. The renowned and talented figure and portrait artist Kehinde Wiley, “is one of the leading American artists to emerge in the last decade and he has been ingeniously reworking the grand portraiture traditions,” notes the Phoenix Art Museum, which hosted an exhibition of Wiley’s work back in 2016 and 2017.
“The [New York City-based] artist began his first series…in the early 2000s during a residency at the Studio Museum in Harlem,” the museum continues. “He set out to photograph and recast assertive and self-empowered young men from the neighborhood in the style and manner of traditional history painting. Since then, he has also painted rap and sports stars, but for the most part, his attention has focused on ordinary men of color in their everyday clothes.”
Clockwise from Top left: Phoenix Art Museum, Marechal Floriano Peixoto (from The World Stage: Brazil Series), 2009, oil on canvas. Museum purchase with funds provided by Contemporary Forum (ArtPick 2009) in honor of the Museum’s 50th Anniversary © Kehinde Wiley Studio and Roberts & Tilton, Culver City, California, by Kehinde Wiley; J Louis, Purple Repose, oil on canvas, 33 x 37”; Blue Rain Gallery, On Another Panel About Climate They Asked Me to Sell the Future, oil and gold leaf on cradled wood panel, 20 x 49”, by Robin Jones.
Contemporary artist J Louis is also enamored with the human form and its endless capacity for expression, “Since humankind has had the faculty to create images, it has revolved around the figure," says Louis. "We are captivated by the fundamental narratives of body language even more so than the spoken word. As we are each bound by a single body, I believe that people are innately curious to expand beyond themselves. The artwork of the figure presents the most basic opportunity to appreciate the beauty of our natural world and collective self while opening a window to experience another existence.
"I think that people are captivated by figurative art because it often presents an experience to a viewer that believes they are fully aware of the world around them until they see the ‘usual’ in a profoundly unexpected and beautiful lense.”
Louis’ work, such as the dynamic Purple Repose, is available at T.H. Brennen Fine Art in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Top row left to right: Blue Rain Gallery, Can You Hear the Thunder, oil and gold leaf on cradled wood panel, 30 x 24, by Robin Jones; 33PA, Pink Echoes, oil on canvas, 40 x 40”, by Angelika Weinekötter. Bottom row left to right: Altamira Fine Art, Slow Burn, mixed media, 76 x 120”, by Michael Blessing; 33 PA, Hollywood Dreams, oil on linen, 32 x 24”, by Leigh Brooklyn.
Josh Sorrell, whose work can found at Abend Gallery in Denver, expresses the figure using a blend of impressionism, expressionism, surrealism and abstraction, as seen in pieces like Storm. “I find inspiration in the moments that shape our fragile identities,” the artist says. “When I look at the person I’ve become, I often wonder how I arrived here. It’s a journey filled with uncontrollable situations that can twist my beliefs in the blink of an eye. The way I paint is directly influenced by these thoughts and encounters. My imagery depicts these life-altering events using layers, texture and color to obscure the subject into a new reality.”
Continue reading for additional insights from artists and galleries on the art of the figure. Today's artists carry on traditional approaches to the human form while continuously reinventing the genre.
Artist Robin Jones, represented by Blue Rain Gallery, feels compelled to create art that prompts viewers to consider how they move through the world, what they consume, how they use the land and how they treat other species. Her work expresses the interconnectedness of all things, the notion of impermanence, and the need to value and care for our only home. By choosing to paint young people, she highlights their role as the inheritors of the planet and their powerful voices in environmental activism today. Jones considers her paintings to be “portraits of the future,” serving as visual reminders of our shared responsibility and the impact of today’s decisions on future generations.
Leah Garcia, Blue Rain director of marketing, adds that when collecting art in this genre, “Jones advises focusing on pieces that resonate with one’s values and that invite deeper reflection on the world. Jones encourages collectors to seek works that engage with themes like environmentalism and interconnectedness, as art with a message can serve as a daily reminder of our collective responsibility.”
Figure artists in the collective known as 33PA, like Angelika Weinekötter, explores the profound relationship between humans and animals in pieces like Pink Echoes. Her series Dialogue of Species, highlights the emotional connection and mutual perception between these worlds, urging reflection on ethical and emotional ties to the animal kingdom. Artist Leigh Brooklyn discusses her figurative work Hollywood Dreams: “The girl in this piece had a dream…She wanted to become a rapper. I met her on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles standing amongst the countless stars on the sidewalk. She had just moved there not too long prior to our meeting, to chase her dreams. She wanted to be ‘where it happens’—she wanted to become a star. People like her have always inspired me. The ones that really go for it.”
Top row left to right: Blue Rain Gallery, Finding the Mother Tree, oil, white gold and gold leaf on aluminum panel, 30 x 36, by Robin Jones; 33PA, Upside Down, oil on linen, 26 x 18”, by Paola Charnet. Bottom row left to right: Altamira Fine Art, Fashionably Frontier, oil on wood panel, 36 x 36”, by Geoffrey Gersten; Michele Poirier Mozzone, Quench, oil on canvas, 36 x 48”; John Cutruzzola, The Morning After, oil on canvas, 36 x 48”
For the oil painting Upside Down, artist Paola Charnet explores human emotions through geometry, using it as a visual language that conveys feelings with vibrant color and form. Her paintings balance clarity and chaos, with abstract shapes symbolizing the ebb and flow of emotions. “Upside Down represents the intertwining of time and emotions, with the fabric in her body forming triangles that symbolize the past, present and future,” the artist shares. “As I painted this piece, I explored the feeling of being suspended between these moments.”
No matter the genre, Altamira Fine Art artists find common ground in showing their subjects in a fresh and bold manner. The eye-catching neon and well-known icons of Michael Blessing’s paintings immediately draw you in. Erica Vhay’s moody scenes and simplified compositions are both calming and compelling at once. With Geoffrey Gersten’s work, you get a blend of realist black and white imagery, juxtaposed with a contemporary background and a vibrant pop of color.
Top row left to right: Altamira Fine Art, Red Hat, oil on canvas, 48 x 36”, by Erica Vhay; CODA Gallery, Scarlett Seduction, acrylic on canvas, 50 x 50”, by Jay Johansen; CODA Gallery, Elegance in the Rain, acrylic on canvas, 50 x 42”, by Jay Johansen. Top row left to right: . Michele Poirier Mozzone, Feeling the Music, oil on canvas, 24 x 24”; Jimmie Shealey, Thistle, oil on canvas, 28 x 22”
When collecting for the genre, Altamira says, “One of the enduring things about figurative art is that it heightens our perception of what it means to be human. Emotionally connecting with art depicting the human form is an integral part of our history and culture.”
Additional figurative gems can be found at CODA Gallery, including pieces like Elegance in the Rain by Jay Johansen. “[This piece] captures the quiet beauty and strength of solitude, as a figure walks through the city in the rain, her red dress standing out against the muted world,” the artist describes. “I’m constantly inspired by the interplay between light, movement and human emotion, and how a single moment can convey both vulnerability and power. My work reflects a celebration of life’s fleeting, powerful and often unnoticed moments.
For another highlight, Scarlet Seduction, Johansen shares that the piece embodies the essence of allure and timeless elegance. “The juxtaposition of the striking red gown against the monochromatic setting emphasizes the beauty of contrast—both in color and emotion,” he says. I’m inspired by the strength and mystery that a moment of stillness can capture, where the subject’s poise is as commanding as the vibrant hue of her dress. Through this piece, I aim to evoke a sense of power, femininity and sophistication, all while celebrating the fine line between seduction and grace.”
Lawrence McAdams, The Waiting Room, oil on canvas, 44 x 60”
At Ryan Graff Contemporary, collectors will find the masterpieces of Igor Lipskykh, such as Woman in Ochre Coat. “To talk about any Ukrainian artist’s inspiration without also talking about the war in Ukraine, and its impact on the art, would be almost impossible,” says gallery owner Ryan Graff. “Lipskyh relayed a story about the beginning of the war; hearing the whistle of an incoming missile and believing he was going to die. Lipskyh’s art is a voice of defiance in the face of what is an unimaginable circumstance for most of us, an intentional decision to create and use his art to contribute something greater to an impossibly challenging world. Early in the war, Lipskyh’s work was an exploration of individuals in a sudden and fundamentally altered reality, and as his work continues to evolve, his gorgeously radical color choices and his increasingly experimental technique become a vehicle to convey the complex emotional lives of his subjects.”
Artist Michele Poirier Mozzone is inspired to capture the unique feelings and distinct associations of the body suspended in water and time. For the inspiration behind pieces like Ease Back, Feeling the Music and Quench, Poirier Mozzone explains: “One exceptionally beautiful afternoon at the pool in 2011, I was struck by the ribbons of sunlight and distortions affecting my daughter through the moving water. I was also keenly aware of catching this lovely, brief moment with her before it flickered by. I grabbed the camera and took numerous photos in hopes of finding inspiration for a new painting. That was the beginning of the Fractured Light series, an exploration that excites and fascinates me to this day.”
Top row left to right: Michele Poirier Mozzone, Ease Back, oil on canvas, 36 x 36”; Lawrence McAdams, The Long Goodbye, oil on canvas, 42 x 60”; Bottom row left to right: John Cutruzzola, Nature, Beauty and the Man, oil on canvas, 36 x 36”; John Cutruzzola, The Sun, The Moon and Terra, oil on canvas, 30 x 40”; Jimmie Shealey, Flora Embattled, oil and silver leaf on claybord, 24 x 18”
This series allows Poirier Mozzone to paint what she loves—the figure—while exploring areas of fluid distortion that exist naturally in turbulent, sunlight-drenched water. “As a vehicle for life, cleansing, change, renewal and death, water lends meaning to the work. I find this unique atmosphere extraordinary,” she says.
John Cutruzzola’s figurative artwork is a vibrant reflection of his keen observations and commitment to social justice, integrity and community engagement. Working primarily in oil on canvas, Cutruzzola’s paintings employ dramatic elements of color and light to evoke a profound sense of presence and underlying emotion. “I believe that artists must have the freedom to express and grow, and I continually explore the aesthetic qualities of my subjects to inspire deeper understanding,” he notes. “Through my art, I not only raise awareness but also actively support charitable organizations, using my talents to foster positive change within the community.”
Cutruzzola invites collectors to visit Gallery 35, where his paintings are exhibited. The gallery serves as an exceptional space for artists seeking to host their next event, offering an elegant environment for solo or collective shows that reflect refined sophistication.
Top row left to right: Ryan Graff Contemporary, Woman in Ochre Coat, oil, spray paint and acrylic on canvas, 25 x 20”; Lawrence McAdams, Into the Deep, oil on canvas, 22 x 28” Top row left to right: Terri Jordan, A Focused Journey, oil, 30 x 24”; Terri Jordan, Safe as Houses, oil, 30 x 30”; Nadine Robbins, Made for Walking, oil on linen, 72 x 36”;
Jimmie Shealey’s art draws inspiration from the visual and emotional experiences that surround him. “Whether it’s the fleeting moments before entering a room or the vulnerability of a particular emotion, I aim to evoke thought and feeling through the human figure," says Shealey. "In my piece Thistle, the fabric wrapping around the body symbolizes the complexity of life, highlighting how we become entangled in our own experiences. The subject, exposed in her nightgown, embodies the discomfort of vulnerability while receiving a bouquet of flowers that serves as a reminder of hope and love. Flora Embattled features a mythical figure, her distressed expression accompanied by two bees, set against a desolate backdrop with flowers symbolizing hope.”
When collecting, Shealey encourages those interested in figurative art to explore what it means to them personally. “The human form can be interpreted in myriad ways, and through my work,” the artist adds, “I strive to provoke emotion and thought, inviting viewers to forge their own connections with the art.”
Lawrence McAdams remembers waking up literally and figurative in the fall of 1999, with a clear calling to become an artist. He shares, “The images in my paintings are usually metaphors for the adventure, battle and beauty of life. They are created to intrigue, inspire and connect emotionally with viewers, as well as their own stories. As an artist, I’m striving to hint at the magic and mysteries of life and the complexity of human relationships, with, hopefully, a cleaver or subtle point-of-view.”
McAdams’s portfolio is defined by its rich, narrative or magic realism, blending human experience with the forces of nature or architecture. A strong aspect of his work is his ability to merge the personal with the universal, capturing moments of introspection and transformation that can resonate with a broad audience.
Nadine Robbins, China Doll, oil on linen, 24 x 24”
“While I do not exhibit my work as self-portraits, they are based on the concept of capturing the world around me, as well as within me,” says artist Terri Jordan of her figurative pieces. “I like to think of them as narratives—the story for each painting coming from voyeuristic interactions, true stories I have read of others’ lives, or events that have affected me in my own life. Each piece is a visual diary page. I use subtle symbols within each of these stories, but it is important to me that the viewer finds something that resonates with them personally. I tend to paint in themed suites, in a series of three to five paintings, and my color palette develops as I create. Recently, my themes have become reflective of my journey through life: aging, loss and memories.
When collecting, Jordan says, “While the collector may not know the subject, it is important to find a connection in the story of a figurative or portrait painting that reminds them of a moment or character from their own life.”
Northern Renaissance masters like Jan van Eyck and Hans Holbein, along with modern influences such as Richard Avedon and Audrey Flack, inspire the work of Nadine Robbins. Her paintings go beyond mere likeness. In every brushstroke, they capture the essence and emotions of her subjects, offering a deep, personal connection. Robbins personally photographs her subjects, ensuring authenticity in every detail. Her collectors know they are investing in far more than just decorative artwork—they are acquiring fine art destined to become the centerpiece of prestigious collections. They value them for their rich textures and vibrant colors, and her art stands apart from fleeting trends, offering treasures that create a lasting legacy for generations. For those who seek something extraordinary, whether it’s a portrait or a figurative painting, her work ensures that each masterpiece remains as captivating in the future as it is today. —
Featured Artists & Galleries
Altamira Fine Art
7038 E. Main Street, Scottdale, AZ 85251 (480) 949-1256
172 Center Street, Jackson, WY 83001, (307) 739-4700
www.altamiraart.com
Blue Rain Gallery
544 S. Guadalupe Street Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 (505) 954-9902
934 Main Avenue, Unit B Durango, Colorado 81301 (970) 232-2033
www.blueraingallery.com
CODA Gallery
73400 El Paseo, Suite B-1,Palm Desert, CA 92260, (760) 346-4661 www.codagallery.com
J Louis
www.jlouis.co
jlouis.is
Jimmie Shealey
(678) 822-1456 www.shealeyartworks.com
shealeyartworks
John Cutruzzola
Gallery 35, (905) 457-3660 inquiries@gallery35.ca www.gallery35.ca
Josh Sorrell
Des Moines, IA info@joshsorrell.com www.joshsorrell.com
josh_sorrell
Lawrence McAdams
www.lawrencemcadams.com
lawrencemcadams1
Michele Poirier Mozzone
poirier.mozzone@gmail.com www.poirier-mozzone.com
MicheleMoz
Nadine Robbins
Hudson Valley, NY, (845) 233-0082 nr@nadinerobbinsart.com www.nadinerobbinsart.com
nadinerobbinsartist
Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004, (602) 257-1880 www.phxart.org
Ryan Graff Contemporary
804 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA, 94109, (415) 534-1450 www.ryangraffcontemporary.com
Terri Jordan
(931) 624-6082 jordanchemart@charter.net www.terrijordanart.com
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