Lauren Rinaldi

"You In That Dress" oil pastel, legs

2016

This figurative drawing titled "Polished" is an original artwork by Lauren Rinaldi made of oil pastel and ballpoint pen on Arches paper. This piece measures 18"h x 11"w framed. The p...

This figurative painting titled "Romanced Interrogation" is an original artwork by Lauren Rinaldi made of oil on canvas. This piece measures 60"h x 30"w. Rinaldi’s new series was inspired by the feminist debate on how women's appearances are constantly judged, criticized and dissected; often done so with the intent of diminishing their work and contributions. This issue is prevalent in all industries, but especially in the very public and important realm of politics. Throughout mainstream media, Rinaldi found countless examples of coverage depicting what a female politician was wearing and why it was deemed “inappropriate”, rather than discussing their policies. Typical of Rinaldi’s practice, most of the works found in Representative are not classic portraits, but zoomed in studies of the subject’s legs, shoes and body from the neck down. By doing so, the work focuses on the experiences and outside societal forces that these women, and women like them, have faced. To create the works in Representative, Rinaldi used sourced photographs of female politicians that felt meaningful and powerful to her. Before painting or drawing, Rinaldi manipulates each image through cropping, elongating or changing its composition, background and color. Color is especially important in Representative, as it is an expression that is frequently rejected or criticized in politics by men. Rinaldi uses vibrant jewel tones and color swaps, like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s jacket from black to fuchsia, to represent the bold new ideas and diversity these women are bringing to United States politics. While Rinaldi does not specifically name any of her subjects, viewers will be able to recognize familiar leaders from across both sides of the aisle. Visitors will see snippets of stories through these works, like Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s sparkly boots...

These recently discovered 1984 oversize pastels on archival papers were created with a live model, working quickly, in pastel. The series shows the l...

My paintings and drawings are very personal, they capture my everyday life, my reaction to things I experienced, either yesterday, in my childhood or even events I imagine. My portra...