Vivian Liddell Figurative Paintings

"Young Man Sidelined (Rush Week Sisyphus I)" is an original contemporary painting by Georgia-based artist Vivian Liddell. This work is part of her new 2022 series titled "Myth of Sisyphus." As a multidisciplinary artist, Liddell brings a dynamic approach to her vivid, colorful two-dimensional pieces. This stunning abstract piece has bold forms and strong value creating a surreal landscape. From the artist: "Gender and power are core concepts in my work. I’ve spent two decades in “The Classic City” (Athens, Georgia), surrounded by a dual Greek culture. Fraternities and sororities separate students by gender and play a part in cementing gender roles and power structures for the next generation; ubiquitous Classical architecture (often accompanied by manicured landscape) is a constant reminder of Western ideals. After a career of painting the female figure and exploring themes related to the male gaze and the lingering inequalities that women face, I’ve focused the past five years on the male figure and his domain. My education was dominated by Western art history, where women were seen as muses; I’m reversing this traditional dynamic between the male artist/intellectual and his female subject. I create tiny “plays” with handmade props and puppet plasticine figures to reenact imagined dramas that might happen on any given home game day...