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Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Jadé Fadojutimi

Art Appreciation

I came across an article in The New Yorker by Rebecca Mead titled Color Instinct that provides an intimate look into the life and artistic process of British painter Jade Fadojutimi. 

Mead describes Fadojutimi’s London studio as both expansive and personal, filled with vibrant paintings, eclectic furniture, and lush greenery. This environment mirrors the dynamic and immersive nature of Fadojutimi’s work, which blurs the lines between abstraction and figuration. 

Her large-scale canvases, often exceeding ten feet in height, are rich with colors and textures that suggest organic forms—leaves, waves, or butterfly wings—while simultaneously capturing emotional states.

Mead details Fadojutimi’s rapid rise in the art world, highlighting her early successes and the institutional recognition she has gained. By 2017, she had her first solo exhibition in London, and just a few years later, major institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Walker Art Center acquired her work. 

Mead emphasizes the artist’s instinctive approach to painting, often working late into the night while listening to orchestral soundtracks. Fadojutimi’s expressive technique and deep sensitivity to color have drawn comparisons to Howard Hodgkin, and her paintings are known for their luminous, immersive qualities.

The article also explores the personal challenges Fadojutimi has faced, including her struggles with mental health and the pressures of rapid commercial success. Mead describes how the artist navigates these complexities while remaining deeply committed to her craft, using painting as both an expressive outlet and a refuge. 

Even an awkward smile can sprout beyond the sun, 2021

An Empathic Revolution, 2022

A Thistle Throb, 2021


Source: 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/11/18/the-intensely-colorful-work-of-a-painter-obsessed-with-anime

https://jadefadojutimi.com/

https://www.instagram.com/jadefadojutimi/?hl=en

https://www.phillips.com/artist/19699/jad%C3%A9-fadojutimi

https://hepworthwakefield.org/whats-on/jade-fadojutimi/

https://www.artic.edu/artists/117853/jade-fadojutimi

https://www.christies.com/en/artists/jade-fadojutimi?lotavailability=All&sortby=relevance

https://mltpl.art/artists/jade-fadojutimi-prints/

https://www.artsy.net/artist/jade-fadojutimi

https://www.houldsworth.co.uk/artists/39-jade-fadojutimi/works/

https://gagosian.com/artists/jade-fadojutimi/

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Carel Pietersz. Fabritius

Art Appreciation

Carel Pietersz. Fabritius, baptized on February 27, 1622, in Middenbeemster, Dutch Republic, was a notable figure of the Dutch Golden Age. Initially trained as a carpenter—reflected in his surname derived from the Latin "faber" meaning "carpenter"—Fabritius transitioned to painting and became one of Rembrandt's most gifted pupils. 

He worked in Rembrandt's Amsterdam studio during the early 1640s before establishing himself in Delft around 1650. In Delft, he joined the painters' guild and began to develop his distinctive artistic style. 

Fabritius was known for his innovative approach to painting, diverging from Rembrandt's techniques by experimenting with perspective, lighting, and spatial effects. His works often featured delicately lit subjects against light-colored, textured backgrounds, moving away from the dramatic chiaroscuro typical of his mentor. 

Notable paintings include "A View of Delft" (1652), showcasing an interest in complex spatial effects, and "The Goldfinch" (1654), celebrated for its detailed depiction and subtle use of color. These works exemplify his mastery in creating lifelike representations with a luminous quality. 

Tragically, Fabritius's life and burgeoning career were cut short on October 12, 1654, when a gunpowder magazine in Delft exploded, destroying a significant portion of the city. This disaster claimed his life and obliterated many of his works, leaving only about a dozen surviving paintings. 


Self-portrait, c. 1645

The Goldfinch, 1654

A View of Delft, 1652

Sources:

Wikipedia 

https://jhna.org/articles/engagement-carel-fabritius-goldfinch-1654-dutch-window-significant-site-neighborhood-social-exchange