Heads Up

16″ x 24” – Smalti, slate, and dishes

There’s a mystery behind this expressive, multicolored bearded man.

During a solo exhibition, I noticed something fascinating about this portrait. Again and again, visitors would stop, point, and say, “Doesn’t this look just like…?” Each person saw someone different—a friend, a relative, a colleague, a familiar face from their own life.

Though the portrait was modeled after a British artist, there seems to be something universally recognizable about him. Perhaps it’s the direct gaze, the thoughtful expression, or simply the way our minds search for connection in a face.

What draws viewers in even further are the vibrant colors and richly layered textures. From a distance, the portrait makes a bold statement. Up close, fragments of smalti, slate, and dishes reveal themselves, inviting closer inspection.

The longer you look, the more there is to find.