The paintings and drawings of Aron Wiesenfeld are haunting explorations of young adulthood.
In each, his pensive subjects (mostly girls) can be seen reflecting on a landscape which almost always dwarfs them. Softly lit, these young men and women appear almost part of the scenery – in The Off Season, the subject basks in the green glow of the storm, while in God of the Forest, the shadow of the ancient tree covers the curious figure beneath, muting the brightness of her clothes.
In this way, Wiesenfeld portrays the quest all teenagers undertake in search of their place, their identity, in the world. It can be strange, it can be scary, and it is often lonely, but it is also beautiful, and a necessary step in our development both as individuals, and as members of society.
Wiesenfeld’s work is driven by mood an experience. He grew up in Santa Cruz, California, and says that, to his mind, everything he paints is the story of a child in that region. They, like him, have been given freedom to explore their surroundings, and let their imagination roam free.
Mood also defines the tools he uses in each piece. If he wants texture, depth, and contrast, he creates in oil paints. If, instead, he wants nothing to distract from the emotional resonance of a work, he picks up charcoal. By doing so, Wiesenfeld brings a new dimension to the story of his characters.
Wiesenfeld’s work has been exhibited across the world, from Norway to New York, as part of eight solo shows and over 50 group shows. Currently, he is preparing for a solo show, which will open at LA’s Arcadia Gallery in 2019.
For more of Aron Wiesenfeld’s art, check out his official website.
