Robert Horvath Associate Professor

In my oil paintings on panel I am exploring this relationship between two realities: a shiny sparkling surface world and a dark and troubled world of fear. Young beautiful bodies vogue and pose in empty, acidic-colored spaces. Exposed skin takes on a cold, other worldly sheen wrapped in the latest designer fashions. Lurking behind the glitter, the desire for status motivates and defines the search for an advantageous mate. Viral entities, gas clouds, and bubbling pink sores begin to roll in as if from a fog machine to obscure or engulf the figures in mid-come-on. This combined imagery forces a visual duality: the escapist pop culture youth can no longer hide from the horrors of reality

I use a technique of glazing in multi layers to create a luscious candy-colored sweetness in the surface of the works. This colorful sweetness entices participation by the viewer making palpable, the viral cloud menace as it influences the libidinous scene.