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Calvin LaiNabi - Modern portraiture artwork realism oil painting modern human form2023
2023
About the Item
This contemporary figurative study by Calvin Lai depicts an intimate portrait of a nude embellished with abstract gestures. Meaning ‘butterfly’ in Korean, Nabi presents a delicate portrayal of a woman’s form dressed in an ornate blanket which conveys a similar shape to wings. Painted in a palette of stylish rich, beige tones, the artist employs liberated expressive brush work which frames the focal subject, giving the sensitive painting a modern feel as well as imbuing the study with an emphasised evocative sensation. There is a sense of reverence for the beauty of the subject, presented holding a confident stance, while the perspective obscures their identity, creating an engaging mystique. This piece is painted in oils on deep stretched canvas, hand signed by the artist and ready to be displayed.
Calvin Lai would be the first to admit that the evolution of his art has taken many machinations. His painting process has matured into a mixture of seeing, distorting, and reinterpreting with the threads of realism weaving the backdrop of where his artistic style is today. As a child, drawing was something Calvin loved, and to make a picture appear lifelike became his goal. Through constantly working, Calvin’s art began to breath, and his fascination with value and perspective blossomed. Eventually, he moved from where he grew up in Los Angeles to San Francisco. There he studied drawing and printmaking at San Francisco State University. In 2008, he enrolled in the Academy of Art for illustration, but began painting instead. He found that he preferred the fine arts over commercial illustration, and now works as a full time oil painter. Since then he has continued to develop and refine his oil painting skills. Lai’s work has been shown nationally in galleries, group exhibitions, and juried shows. He has executed a large number of commissioned portraits over the past several years, and his paintings have appeared in national and international publications. His recent work has returned to a serious study of the figure, which has always been the anchor for his creative drive. His goal has gone beyond mere technical interpretations to a deeper sense of what the energy of the figure feels like. This goal has also carried over into his recent still lifes. In his ongoing series, “In the Land of Giants,” Calvin seeks to make a viewer feel as if they are immersed within the still life witnessing a world that is both fantastical and humorous. But the borders for what he chooses to paint has expanded to a variety of subjects, including cityscapes, and ultimately he is driven to capture everything around him through his paints, brushes, and determination. Education 2008 – 12 MA, Academy of Art, San Francisco, CA 1991 – 97 BA, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA Publications 2021 How Artists See Themselves, December 2021, Fine Art Connoisseur An Interview with Calvin Lai, September 2021, The Flying Fruit Bowl
- Creator:Calvin Lai (American)
- Creation Year:2023
- Dimensions:Height: 40.16 in (102 cm)Width: 29.53 in (75 cm)Depth: 1.19 in (3 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU468313804492
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LAPADA - The Association of Arts & Antiques Dealers
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
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