Image 1 of 10
Image 2 of 10
Image 3 of 10
Image 4 of 10
Image 5 of 10
Image 6 of 10
Image 7 of 10
Image 8 of 10
Image 9 of 10
Image 10 of 10
I created this piece from a fascination with presence and concealment, the power of what is shown versus what is left hidden. The female figure isn’t meant to be fully revealed. Her oversized hat becomes a shield, casting shadows that protect her identity while simultaneously drawing attention to her confidence and elegance.
I deliberately worked within a mostly monochromatic palette to strip the image back to its essence. Black and white allowed me to focus on form, posture, and emotion, while the controlled bursts of vivid pink and golden yellow act as moments of interruption symbols of individuality, desire, and inner fire breaking through restraint.
The background was kept loose and fluid, built up with abstract strokes in soft blues and pinks. I wanted contrast: movement versus structure, softness against sharp lines. This tension mirrors the balance between vulnerability and strength that I see in modern identity, especially within urban culture.
Fashion influences the work, but not in a literal sense. It’s more about attitude and elegance with an edge, beauty that doesn’t ask for permission. By blending elements of fashion illustration with street-inspired textures, I aimed to create a portrait that feels timeless yet rooted in now.
This artwork is about mystery as power. It invites the viewer to pause, to imagine the story behind the figure, and to realize that sometimes the strongest presence is the one that doesn’t fully reveal itself.
Monochrome portrait art, abstract portrait painting, contemporary street art, urban portrait artwork, optical illusion art, modern graffiti portrait, Asko Art
