Lisa Yuskavage

Lisa Yuskavage

Edge of Towners, 2011, oil on linen

The Smoker, 2008, oil on linen

Lisa Yuskavage is a figurative painter who works with themes of re-emergence. She is concerned with the immediacy of contemporary life. Her engagement with the human form is representative of John Currin.

Adjectives of her female nude include lavish, erotic, cartoonish, vulgar, and angelic.

Formally, she places her figures in front of rich, atmospheric skies, so as to appear to occupy their own realm. Her lines and colors appear dreamlike.

Will Cotton

Will Cotton

Ice Cream, 2009

Cherry Pop, 2000

Will Cotton juxtaposes landscapes of ice cream and candy, etc. with portraits of beautiful women. His works resemble a Candy Land scene or a gingerbread house. These utopias evoke sight, smell, touch, and taste.

He features elements of advertising, human desire, sugar, and sex (all relatable). He paints with old master technical precision. Some of his paintings appear to be photographs.

His use of color, usually pastel,  provides a dreamlike quality to his paintings.

Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst

Requiem, White Roses, and Butterflies, 2008

spin painting, 1995

Damien Hirst is internationally renowned for his sculptural works but also creates well-known paintings! He shows immense influence of Francis Bacon. His first painting show received one of the worst critical responses ever. It was called "shockingly bad" and "first year art student".

He does spot paintings, which are just colored spots on walls, boards, and canvas. Also spin paintings, which are just SPIN ART that you can buy at Michaels. These can both be categorized as non-representational.

In his other works, he uses dark colors and deep shadows, referencing the popular themes of death and theatricality.