Portraits

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 2022, Oil, 37” x 31”

This body of work explores portraiture as both encounter and connection—shaped by time spent, attention given, and moments of presence that carry broader meaning. The subjects range from public figures to people encountered through daily life, each portrayed at a particular moment when personal identity and circumstance intersect.

Rendered at life size, the paintings invite an intimate exchange between viewer and subject. Subtle gestures, expressions, and richly worked surfaces convey character without spectacle, allowing personality to emerge gradually. The scale encourages closeness, asking the viewer to meet each subject eye to eye.

Included are early works that focuses on individuals connected to the New York City subway—artists, musicians, and workers, and those whose lives unfolded within its rhythms. Set against iconography of the subway, these portraits capture moments both quiet and charged, reflecting the subway as a shared space shaped by routine, resilience, and unexpected connection. Their stories are woven into the fabric of the city, revealing a place animated by fleeting encounters and deeply human narratives.

Intimate Feasts

All Politics Is Local, 2012, Oil, 28” x 18”

The  series captures the quiet joys of daily life, transforming shared meals into celebrations of connection and gratitude. These paintings, created with meticulous detail, honor intimate dinners with her husband and muse, Fred May, as well as gatherings with loved ones, reflecting the artistry of meal preparation and the profound bonds formed around the table.

Spanning 2004 to 2007, the series captures a period of joy and stability which contrast the Portals series, explores loss and the longing for reconnection. Together, these works create a poignant narrative, bridging moments of abundance with the hope of restoring togetherness disrupted by the pandemic.

Through Intimate Feasts, the artist reminds us to find beauty in the routine, embrace collaboration, and treasure life’s fleeting, meaningful moments.