Miriam Escofet creates rich oil paintings of idyllic scenes that nostalgically allude to classical antiquity. Perhaps the only notes of pessimism in these sumptuous depictions of ornate architecture, statues and jewels is that Escofet’s heavenly world seem to be nearly devoid of human inhabitants. This is a place that seems to belong to the gods — too perfect for mortals. Escofet originally studied 3D design and set out to be a ceramicist, which explains her attention to texture and volume. Each crease of fabric and crevice within a tree’s bark is rendered with precision. Light and shadow are greatly contrasted to a level beyond what we normally experience with the human eye, making Escofet’s fictional lands seem vivid yet illusory.
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Chilean artist 
The surreal paintings of 
Hideyuki Katsumata’s wild paintings and drawings blend centuries of Japanese motifs, pop elements, and more otherworldly elements. The Tokyo native produces an array of work outside of his paintings, from soft toys and enamel pins to massive murals and show designs. The artist was last featured on our site