Wallflower 2021

Here is a painting by Michael Cheval featuring a figure who poses with a hedgehog. I can imagine him mixing a palette of gold, teal, and fleshy tones. The background seems to swirl, like a dreamscape or a patterned wallpaper peeling away to reveal a hidden world. The subject almost blends into it, yet her cool blues and pinks make her stand out. I wonder what Cheval was thinking when he painted her hair, so light and airy yet almost electrified with that burst of color. It's like she's a delicate flower, but there's something a little surreal about her calm gaze. Maybe Cheval wants us to rethink what a portrait can be. It reminds me of other artists who play with realism and imagination. I love how painters like him keep the conversation going, remixing styles, and offering new ways to see the world.