Description
‘Memento Mori XXIII’ by Kristen Margiotta
Artist: Kristen Margiotta
Title: ‘Memento Mori XXIII’
Medium: Oil on wood panel
Dimensions: 6″ x 6″
Framing: Framed in a wide, heavy, matte black frame, hand painted by the artist (Genuine 23kt golf leaf details applied by the artist)
Year of Creation: 2023
About the Artwork:
“Memento Mori is a timeless theme throughout history which reminds the viewer that life is fleeting. It’s quite direct when translated: ‘Remember You Must Die’. Traditionally, this theme was expressed with imagery that reminds the viewer of their own mortality and this brief lifetime, such a skulls, bubbles, rotting fruit, and dead flowers. I think death can be experienced during our lifetime, where part of ourself dies in order to live. This could be enduring a transformation of sorts, ego death, or moving on from what no longer serves you. Flames and the death head hawk moth symbolize transformation, and my signature pearl tears are featured, representing beauty after adversity. I’d like to think this painting takes on positive interpretation of the class Memento Mori theme.” – Kristen Margiotta
About the Artist:
(Artist Bio)
Kristen Margiotta is based in the United States, in the first state of Delaware. She is a contemporary oil painter whose passion for art is pervasive throughout her lifestyle. For almost two decades, she has been exhibiting and selling her work, illustrating books, and actively participating in her local art community.
Margiotta has exhibited in galleries and museums nationally and was represented in Santa Fe, NM for a decade. Her oil paintings are found in private collections across the country, ranging from collectors of animation and cartoon art, to dark art, pop surrealism, and realism.
Margiotta has transitioned from her “big eyed” gallery paintings and illustration work and returned to her roots of a more realistic and narrative oil painting style. She’s also returned to portrait painting, working directly from live models using the direct method of “alla prima” oil painting. Strength, raw human emotion, and the color red pervade her work. Her recent gallery exhibitions include those at Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, and the Convent, Philadelphia, PA.
Margiotta continues to paint and teach art privately in her home studio in Newark, DE.
(Artist Statement)
I am at a pivotal moment in my career, a new beginning, a new cycle of art that is a reflection of my growth first as a person, and as an artist. My recent body of work centers around the human figure and nature to uncover and reveal personal truth. This work is a departure from my “big eyed” fine artwork and illustrations that spanned my 17+ year career, which focussed on sweet, but often scared characters, afraid of the unknown and of the ominous environments they were exploring.
My recent work is about transformation of oneself, a complete departure from my previous body of work. How we can move beyond limitations and hardships and transform them into something beautiful that unlocks our inner fire. My work is raw and emotive, and though it may appear “dark” to some, it is alive and reflects what I think we are meant to be as human beings: powerful, determined, and with the ability to overcome. By discovering who we really are, we can transform ourselves, and move forward in a positive way in this lifetime. My goal is for my artwork to reach people, to touch them or connect with them, to bring joy, and help them heal.