Artist documents the pain of isolation in realistic oil paintings

“It’s not what you wanted”, 2021

New York based artist Alyssa Monks forces us to confront deep feelings of anguish in his new series titled Everything is under control. Inspired by the isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, these realistic canvases compel viewers to watch the emotional tales of solitary figures, slightly abstracted by the wet glass of their shower stalls.

From hiding behind their hands to staring at the wall, these intimate portraits depict a range of reactions to crisis, each with their own unique voice. “At times the recent global and national devastation, division and so many disappointments felt like a surreal projection of my own mental states in isolation over the past 18 months,” Monks said. Explain. “I began to explore the human addiction to control and predictability, and how our deepest suffering stems from our attachment to security, virtue, identity, and the logic of cause and effect.”

According to Monks, placing the figures in a slightly transparent bathroom cubicle serves several purposes. “The glass barrier in these paintings between subject and viewer is darkened by a vapor that obscures and abstracts the subject,” she says. “This barrier underscores the personal and community concern about virus-laden respiratory droplets and the isolation it creates.” As a result, the viewer’s perception of these characters is ambiguous; we cannot see the full expression of their faces or any clear details. Instead, we infer their emotions through body language and the drama of the foggy setting.

Some of the paintings in this series are still available for purchase through the Forum Gallery. You can also find prints of the artist’s paintings via her websiteand keep up to date with Monks’ latest work and upcoming exhibitions by following the artist on instagram.