UNMASKED

Oct 19, 2024

A monstrous skeletal figure covered in red silk robes stands with arms crossed and jaw open as if hissing. Behind is a paint splattered background reminiscent of blood. With hood drawn over and head slightly turned, it looks down with eyeball loose in the shadowed orbital. Its horrifying face is a combination of bone and withered flesh. Long pointed teeth slant forward with tongue resting in the lower jaw still held together by desiccated flesh. The body is human in shape but the face is clearly not. The dry flesh of its hand looks almost reptilian with long slender fingers splayed and ending in points. Its lower half looks feeble with knees knocked and one leg thin as if only bone. — UNMASKED (2011), Pastels and Watercolor on an Acrylic Splash on Pastel Paper - 15" x 11"

For fun I thought to portray my own interpretation of the "Crimson King" as an early Halloween riff...but the sight of police state brutality on Wall Street—and the mainstream news blackout of same—was horror enough for me that year.

This received a Spectrum Gold award in the Unpublished category.

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Additional images from UNMASKED

LEFT: Detail from UNMASKED featuring a monstrous skeletal figure cover in red silk robes. Its arms are cross and head turned to the side in a hiss as if it has just been caught by surprise. RIGHT: Close detail from UNMASKED featuring the skeletal face between the crimson hood and almost reptilian hands with fingers splayed. — Details from UNMASKED

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UNMASKED, Signed open edition giclée. Conservation Framing: Acid-free Mat, Archival Plexiglass, and Amazing Skull Wood Frame — A signed print of UNMASKED is available in our shop

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UNMASKED

Additional images from UNMASKED

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