Ireland Wisdom’s portraits fuse classical technique with contemporary vitality, creating modern-day bohemians who channel historical grandeur while radiating their own distinctive personalities. Working from live models and entirely in oil paint, her life-size depictions convey an intimate connection between the artist and subject. The carefully chosen props in her compositions add layers of narrative, further emphasizing the individuality of each figure. Wisdom’s work, rich in symbolism, explores connections—between light and shadow, history and the present, the artist and her models, and the painting and the viewer.

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Her classical training, honed in the Renaissance academies of Florence, Italy, informs her ability to capture the intricate play of light on the human form. Wisdom’s work continues to evolve from her upbringing in Los Angeles, where she lives and works today.

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Exhibition: Persephone