Aron Belka

Artist Statement

My current paintings are predominantly large scale gestural portraits that are representative, but pull between the measurable and the abstract, primarily depicting working class, under-represented subjects of society.

Historically, portraits have been reserved for people of status, wealth, or privilege, but my interest lies in making large paintings of the overlooked that inescapably address the viewer.

In addition to the subject, I enjoy the ongoing process of exploring the materiality of paint and the tools to apply it. I’m interested in the texture and pace of a painting, of active and quiet areas, and continuing to push the tension between figuration and abstraction, considering that each mark has the possibility of carrying a sensation.