David Molesky

Cheerioscuro

2025

David Molesky creates representational oil paintings of figures in natural habitats. His subjects bask in sunlight unposed, near his studio window and in woodlands, rivers, lakeshores and deep wilderness. Molesky frames his figures in states of ‘commune with nature:’ a meditative state of human contentment born from proximity to the natural world and a life of material simplicity. Molesky’s technical approach to painting exemplifies the mindfulness in which his figures navigate their environments. To reduce toxicity in the oil painting process, Molesky has developed an approach that eliminates the need for harmful solvents. In his studio in Brooklyn, using centuries-old paint recipes augmented by his studies in paint chemistry, he crafts his art materials from walnut oil, crushed limestone, and a multitude of pigments. Having grown up in Washington, D.C. and then graduating from UC Berkeley in 1999 (art & pre-med), Molesky spent the first half of his adult life exploring the west coast. Now dividing his time between studios in Brooklyn and Raleigh, he paints full time and contributes articles to publications including Juxtapoz and Fine Art Connoisseur. His paintings can be found in permanent collections on both coasts and in Europe and Asia, including the Long Beach Museum of Art in California and the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art in the Philippines.