Interested in investigating contemporary culture through classical realism, L.A.-based painter Nicola Verlato (most recently featured in Hi-Fructose Collected 3) will participate in a large-scale museum group show at the Domus Artium in Salamanca, Spain titled “From madonna to Madonna: (De)constructions of the Feminine in Contemporary Society.” Opening March 1, the exhibition investigates the role of the woman as subject and artist through a juxtaposition of the two most famous madonnas of our time.
In medieval art, the madonna served as a stand-in for the Virgin Mary and was depicted as a broader metaphor for a pious, righteous woman. Now, however, the name Madonna is more commonly associated with the pop superstar — world-famous bad girl and sex symbol. In Verlato’s painting, the (M)madonna is a powerful warrior that radiates strength and self-assurance. The artist sent us some exclusive photos of the painting as it evolved from its initial stage to completion. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the process, images courtesy of Nicola Verlato.