Nature Morte
Steeped in art historical precedent, Tony Scherman’s encaustic work simultaneously addresses contemporary visual culture. Scherman uses historical icons for his portrait’s subjects, embellishing figures like Abraham Lincoln with dramatic light and shadow to reveal greater emotion. The artist began working with encaustic to better understand the tradition of still life painting, as the fleshy wax imbues objects with a greater sensuality. In rich, textured layers, Scherman’s portraits explore the volatility of human experience. His “Difficult Women” series portrays feminine icons as both stoic and emotive and includes large-scale renderings of Rosa Parks, Serena Williams, Marilyn Monroe, and Margaret Thatcher.