| In these new paintings, I am attempting to realize the “unreal” through the use of mythical references. Utilizing witches to explore the depths of sexuality, mysticism and power, I compose the paintings as conceptual cinematic storyboards and tell a story from multiple points of view. Invoking, at times, sexually explicit subject matter, while looking to a wide range of popular culture sources for visual inspiration including high-tech “first-person shooter” video gaming, I ultimately render post-apocalyptic views of American society. I strive to use my paintings as tools to participate in conversations that lead to the creation of new icons, as illustrated in my working relationship with the performance artist Julie Atlas Muz. |  |
Nicola Verlato
In these new paintings, I am attempting to realize the “unreal” through the use of mythical references. Utilizing witches to explore the depths of sexuality, mysticism and power, I compose the paintings as conceptual cinematic storyboards and tell a story from multiple points of view. Invoking, at times, sexually explicit subject matter, while looking to a wide range of popular culture sources for visual inspiration including high-tech “first-person shooter” video gaming, I ultimately render post-apocalyptic views of American society. I strive to use my paintings as tools to participate in conversations that lead to the creation of new icons, as illustrated in my working relationship with the performance artist Julie Atlas Muz. My painting process is multifaceted, and begins with an elaborate set of drawings, which I then sculpt into clay models to decipher extremely complex perspectives. My models are then asked to "act" in response to the models and sketches, while I modify my sketches with the added information obtained from their various interpretations. The resulting works are full of surprise elements and vivid detail rescued from the undulating throes of popular culture, capturing complex narrative elements in a baroque style. Mesmerizing in their clarity, surprise elements and vivid detail, the work creates complex relationships between fantastically disparate characters.
