Menu
The New Contemporary Art Magazine

Roland Mikhail’s Surreal Airbrush Paintings

Brooklyn artist Roland Mikhail masters the technique of airbrushing to create images of people, objects and wildlife that, as the artist says, "speak to the parts of us we do not know are looking." His work is bold and instinctive, layered with complex imagery that explores the interconnections between our conscious and subconscious.

Brooklyn artist Roland Mikhail masters the technique of airbrushing to create images of people, objects and wildlife that, as the artist says, “speak to the parts of us we do not know are looking.” His work is bold and instinctive, layered with complex imagery that explores the interconnections between our conscious and subconscious.



“Everything our organism comes into contact with leaves an indelible impression on the psyche whether we know it or not, remembered or forgotten, like it or dislike it,” the artist states on his website. “They inhabit a world we are mostly unconscious of, but it is always present. The sense is that we may catch a fleeting glimpse into this world through dream, intuition, or a sudden flash… but that world is forever staring back.”

Finding his inspiration in all facets of life, Mikhail molds his ideas through preliminary sketches then transforms them with acrylic and meticulous airbrushing. The paintings themselves are an ever-evolving journey, both in their creation and discovery, where new meanings surface from every angle. Visions appear like a second skin to the larger subjects, such as the sculptural faces and figures interwoven with a portrait of an elephant or image of an airplane in flight.



View more of Mikhail’s work in closer detail on his Instagram.

Meta
Share
Facebook
Reddit
Pinterest
Email
Related Articles
The intricate abstract works of Miertje Skidmore internalize and transform the environmental extremes of the Australian landscape. Her paintings suggest the otherworldly- each abstraction could be a birds-eye-view of a multicolored planet. Her palette makes use of mineral and elemental colors that wouldn’t be out of place in some of the most rare enclaves of nature.
People packed on train platforms and congregated in public spaces - these images that are so familiar to the city dweller are the inspiration behind Lu Chao’s surreal oil paintings. The artist references the detailed, expressive brushstrokes of classical Chinese painting, applied to a contemporary subject matter, to provide an honest reflection of his personal experiences with living in some of the world's most populated cities.
Italian artist Vesod exhibits a new collection of paintings and drawings in E-horizon, opening today at Mirus Gallery in San Francisco. Viewers will be treated to eight works on canvas and paper, as well as a site-specific installation. Vesod is recognized for his perception-altering creations that offer the illusion of three-dimensionality. He often depicts human figures traversing through geometric environments, which are reflective of the "eternal present". The exhibition is on view through October 29.
Elizabeth Glaessner utilizes water-dispersed pigment and inks in her absorbing, vibrant scenes and portraits. The works, moving reality and dreamlike settings, explore humanity in their imperfect forms. Often, her work is pulling from both mythology and her own experiences in her paintings.

Subscribe to the Hi-Fructose Mailing List