Portrait 2018

Alaa Awad's 'Portrait' emerges through bold strokes and a fiery palette of reds, oranges, and blacks. Imagine the artist leaning in, brush loaded, laying down these vibrant hues. I wonder if Awad felt a similar pull to those colors? The thick paint conveys the artist's passion, like each stroke is a heartbeat. See how the red envelops her face, the marks alive with energy, like a conversation unfolding? The lines evoke an image of someone swathed in heavy fabrics, their textures, patterns, and folds built up layer by layer. The painting feels both ancient and modern at the same time, don’t you think? It reminds me a little of Marlene Dumas's portraits – that same intensity of feeling, but filtered through Awad’s own unique cultural lens. It's like artists are always riffing off each other across time, their conversations echoing through paint. Ultimately, this painting opens up a space for us to bring our own stories and meanings to the surface. What does it spark in you?