Female Nudes

nude art life model posing in the artist's studio

Nude Art

As a painter, I am keenly aware of the complex legacy of the female nude in Western art. It has been a symbol of beauty and divinity, but it also carries the weight of a history.  Rarely depicted as individuals, female nudes were typically passive or submissive, crafted to satisfy the male gaze. Navigating this history as a male artist today is a real challenge, especially in a culture saturated with idealized and sexualised images.

painting of female nude, called an exercise in objecification
“Exercise in Objectification”

I don’t see these paintings as nudes in the traditional sense; I consider them “nude portraits.” The works below, created between 2013 and 2023 with professional models in my studio, are born from the same intention as my other portraits. My hope for future paintings is to create a space for genuine connection, free from the historical baggage of objectification.