Portrait 1985

Oleg Holosiy made this portrait using oil paints, though we don’t know when. It’s the kind of painting that feels like it emerged rather than being made. See how the brushstrokes aren't trying to hide? They're right there, thick and juicy, making the whole thing feel super immediate. Look closely, and you'll see these gorgeous, gloppy strokes that make up the figure's dark clothing. It’s like Holosiy was wrestling with the paint, letting it pile up and swirl around. Then you notice the face – softer, almost ghostly, with these delicate touches of color that suggest features without defining them too much. The background is this moody mix of greens and grays, kind of swallowing up the figure, giving it this haunting vibe. It puts me in mind of artists like Marlene Dumas, who aren’t afraid to leave things unresolved. It reminds us that art is really about the conversation and the questions, not the answers.