Masquerade

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This painting won 1st Place for People’s Choice at the Museum of Wisconsin Art Member Show in 2024.

Original oil painting on canvas
24” x 24”, Unframed
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“Masquerade” is part of a series titled “Fragile.” All of the paintings in this series share a common element of the fish in balloons or globes. This series is my response to my experiences of the pandemic, and some of the social upheaval we have been experiencing here in the United States.

The photo reference for this painting actually came about by accident! I had travelled to New York City to do a photo shoot in a subway station for a different painting. My model and I were standing around waiting for someone, and she was holding a bunch of balloons that we were using for the shot. By chance, the balloons grouped themselves all around her, and half hid her face, and it was so beautiful and inspiring, I took a bunch of photos quickly! And this is the result.

I call it “Masquerade” as a play on words, as the balloon hides the lower part of her face, like a mask. And all the fish in the balloons around her are Betta Fish, also called Siamese Fighting Fish. It is my commentary on how many people here in the US got very angry and fought against having to wear masks during the pandemic. I also placed the most beautiful, golden fish over her heart, a symbol of her pure good innocence among the others fighting.

Bubbles or globes in art are a classical symbol of impermanence or even death. Placing the fish in the balloons is beautiful and whimsical, but if you think about it they aren’t particularly safe — the balloon could burst at any time. So while I am starting with a fun, beautiful image, there is also a lot of deeper meaning going on.