Transforming Spaces with Faces

From busts to selfies, portraits have been prominent in art since the beginning. The static recreation of the human face has been used to display powerful emotions or amplify the importance of a historical figure. Portraits can bring us to a specific moment, and bring us insight into the human experience of it. It asks the audience to instill themselves in the shoes of the person they see, taking down barriers between them.

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Famous portrait artists have spanned from Johannes Vermeer with “The Girl with the Pearl Earring” to Leonardo da Vinci with his iconic Mona Lisa. Acclaimed portrait photographers have included Edward S Curtis and George Hurrell. 

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Here are five artists on WXLLSPACE hoping to connect the subject and viewer through portraits.

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Joel Bergner from Washington, D.C.

With his nonprofit, Artolution, Bergner organizes community-based public art initiatives with those who have experienced armed conflict and social marginalization. Bergner’s work spans different countries, from the United States to Uganda and Syria. He has also worked with other nonprofits such as UNICEF and Mercy Corps. Through his work, Bergner hopes to highlight the trauma his subjects have gone through, while also bringing hope and light to their lives. 

Learn more: https://explore.wxllspace.com/artist/joel-bergner 

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Mon Devane from Ourense

Mon Devane has been working with spray paint since 2003, creating monochromatic, photorealistic large-scale paintings. Slightly influenced by graffiti and traditional methods, his work magnifies small details in the human face. Through this, he conveys complex aspects of human identities – traditions, lives, and stories. Since 2016, Devane’s work has expanded from Spain to Jamaica, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates. 

Learn more: https://explore.wxllspace.com/artist/mon-devane 

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RAST from Saint-Cyr-L’Ecole

Since the age of 14, RAST has been a prominent street artist, working in graffiti, lettering, and, now, portraits. His art is identifiable by its intense colors and detailed realism, as well as the lively humanity it features. RAST’s specialty is his moving portraits, mixing moving technological parts and renewable energy with static murals. Gears and roses rotate, wings flap, and eyes shift around. He also augments his murals with smoke bombs that add greater color to his work. 

Learn more: https://explore.wxllspace.com/artist/artiste-rast 

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Misteralek from Bell

Californian-native Misteralek creates realistic portraits of people that are emblematic of Los Angeles and the city’s unique, diverse culture. His portraits range in subject, from legendary basketball player Kobe Byrant to celebrated poet Amanda Gorman. Originally from Ecuador, Misteralek also celebrates his Latino heritage by featuring Indigenous people and Latin American icons such as Selena and Frida Kahlo. 

Learn more: https://explore.wxllspace.com/artist/misteralek 

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Nil Safont from Barcelona

Focused exclusively on impressively large-scale paintings on massive walls in urban spaces, Safont creates personal portraits of people, reflective of significant social issues. He uses his visual language to talk about education, indoctrination, and human behavior, as well as his relationship with figures of power around him. 

Learn more: https://explore.wxllspace.com/artist/slim-safont 

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Portraits continue to be poignant views into the lives of people, ranging from the ordinary to the incredible. And when they’re placed on a wall, these detailed depictions only become more spectacular. 

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To find more artists specializing in capturing the human condition, explore WXLLSPACE today!

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