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Fine Art Portfolio: The following three galleries (I: Deformology Art, II: Representational Art, and III: Nonrepresentational Art) show my strong linear focus and introspective exploration. The themes of human transformation, sex, gender, and thought-provoking content have always been a major element in my work. Every piece of art here can be viewed as an intimate self portrait. This collection ranges from digital photo collages, large abstract oil pastel panels, and quirky sketchbook studies. Select one of the three forms to explore and examine.
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Deformology: Red Cross
(digital print on matte vellum) by: Anthony Cianciolo 7 X 7 in |
I: DEFORMOLOGY ART (A Study in Disfigured Form)My most recent work torques images of the physical world into new narratives. Think: formally posed carnival side-show freaks and other bodily horrors captured in century-old photographic portraits. All of these pieces are based on old family photos scavenged from thrift stores and sidewalk sales. The first step is finding a picture that exudes the right kind of history. If I look at it and instantly start fantasizing about a backstory for these people as characters in a twisted play, I know I have the perfect foundation. I always have a nightmarish vision when first looking at the original image. This usually involves human disfigurement and the marring of skin. I know I am close to completion on these collages when I show them to other people and they instinctively laugh nervously and simultaneously look closer with amazement.
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Untitled
(acrylic on textured board) by: Anthony Cianciolo 9.5 X 11 in. |
II: REPRESENTATIONAL ART (A Study in Illustrated Form)In this collection of illustrative pieces I am exploring and playing with themes of bodily horror, medical fascination, alchemy, and the monstrous side of nature. This collection consists of gestural sketchbook studies, detailed watercolor and acrylic paintings, and digital art. Everything here is hand drawn and hand painted. Vibrant colors, subtle textures, and distressed surfaces are key elements equally as important to the subject matter. Many of these pieces are conceived, created, and completed in one sitting without any reference material. I start by sketching for hours on pieces of torn and crinkled paper. I then build a textured ground on which to paint before meticulously rendering and modeling the form on the sculpted surface of the paper.
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Untitled - VI
(oil pastel stick on paper) by: Anthony Cianciolo 11 X 8.5 in. |
III: NONREPRESENTATIONAL ART (A Study in Abstract Form)In this collection of abstract pieces I am exploring and playing with themes of removal and unrecognizability. These drawings and paintings feature classic thick black borders, portrait layouts and vast open fields of vague content. I create these works in a three-part process: first is the application of brightly colored grounds using paint and collaged material; I then shroud the entire ground with a generous layer of thick black oil pastel; and finally I reveal the work by gently removing selected portions of layer two (black oil pastel) to integrate everything. These pieces have a hand-worked quality with a contemplative tone. All the work here has been sized for comfort and familiarity. They reflect the familiar dimensions of newspapers and magazine pages, house windows, and doorways. Each one is mounted on a weighty half-inch-thick board, giving it the feel of a heavy rustic tablet.
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