Queen of a New World 2020

Jana Brike made this painting, Queen of a New World, using oils. The approach to the mark making is very gentle, soft brush strokes caress the canvas, like a love letter written with paint. It's amazing how Brike balances a delicate touch with the physicality of oil paint, creating a surface that seems both ethereal and tangible. Look at the way she renders the crown of twigs and blossoms; it’s not just decorative, it’s structural, almost architectural. I love how this connects with the overall sense of growth and transformation. The texture is smooth, allowing the colors to blend seamlessly, but you can still sense the layering and the history of the painting process. It feels like the queen is emerging from the canvas, or maybe, like the canvas is dreaming her into existence. It reminds me of Paula Rego’s narrative painting, which embraces fairy tales and folk art as a space of imagination and possibility. Like all great art, it's about the questions it raises, not the answers it gives.