ABOVE: “Men Painting Women” was curated by artist Robert Shirk, with the intention of showcasing the work of five Florida male artists, whose works focus almost exclusively on depictions of the female form. The exhibit will remain open at the Orlando Public Library through Aug. 31. (Photo courtesy Robert Shirk’s Facebook)
Two gay visual artists based in Florida each currently have some of their works featured in a female-centric exhibit at the Orlando Public Library.
“Men Painting Women” was curated by artist Robert Shirk, with the intention of showcasing the work of five Florida male artists – Wilson Romero, Herbie Martin, Leonardo Montoya, Weldon Ryan and Shirk himself – whose works focus almost exclusively on depictions of the female form. The exhibit is meant to highlight the varying styles and perspectives of these artists in depicting women, as well as expand upon the “rich history of male artists painting women” cemented by artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo Da Vinci and Andy Warhol.
Wilson Romero has five pieces featured in the exhibit: “Mother of Mine,” “Samaritana,” “Forever Girlfriends Forever Wine,” “Sofia” and “Nostalgic Dance.”
Romero, who moved to Orlando from Venezuela when he was 25 years old, said that his initial inspiration in painting women was the strong female presence in his own life: his six sisters, mother, aunt and “two beautiful grandmothers.”
Romero’s piece “Mother of Mine” serves as a tribute to his relationship with his mother, who was a crochet artist that taught Romero the craft when he was a little boy. He said that this experience would prove to be a formative influence in his own work, though he would not realize it until much later.
“If you look at my paintings, you see a lot of circles [and] details,” Romero said. “I didn’t notice that until one of my sisters said…[that my paintings] look like the patterns my mom used to [crotchet]. That [realization] really shocked me.”
Romero describes his style of painting women as magical romantic symbolism. Part of the magical component of his work stems from the poetry he writes, which he said often informs what he ends up painting. There is also a surrealist aspect of Romero’s work, which he said contributes to this magical quality. The female figures in his paintings are nondescript beings that exist outside of a distinct cultural history or time period.
“These are women that belong somewhere else,” Romero said. “They don’t belong to a specific culture.”
The symbolism in Romero’s work comes from his use of dragonflies, hummingbirds and butterflies as pictorial elements, which he said gives his work a certain delicacy and enhances the overall magical aesthetic.
Michael Donohue, community outreach coordinator for the Orange County Library system, believes that Wilson’s timeless style not only makes his portrayals of women unique but also gives his body of work a greater accessibility.
“Everything from color choice to the titles of the works themselves gives Wilson’s depictions a sense of timeless elegance,” Donohue said. “At first glance, it would be easy to mistake any of Wilson’s paintings as art that had been created more than 50 years ago, but his works strike an interesting balance between classic and contemporary that I really admire.”
“Forever Girlfriends Forever Wine,” is a dedication to Romero’s female friendships, which Romero said were instrumental in helping him feel more comfortable in his skin and accept his sexuality.
“[My female friendships provided] the push for me to get out of the closet,” Romero said. “They say that every woman has a good gay best friend and it’s kinda true…Through one of my exes, I met this group of female figures…and we’ve become so close that…they’re like my sisters. Thanks to them, I was able to grow in this culture and in this country.”
The piece is a favorite of Donohue’s for its large bulk.
“I’m naturally drawn to large pieces, and [that piece] is so immense that you can actually see it from across the street,” Donohue said.
Through painting women, Romero has realized the disempowerment women have been subjected to throughout human history. He said that this realization inspired him to paint women in a strength-affirming way.
“Women are the ones that have been discriminated the most,” Romero said. “From the beginning of creation when…the Bible said that because of Eve…Adam [ate the forbidden fruit], from that moment, the woman was blamed for everything. Society and religion, through female figures, have put women in such a low level.”
“I wanted to lift [women] up and put them on top and give them the power that they deserve,” he added.
As a gay man, Romero believes that his queerness gives him an artistic keenness that allows him to discern the nuances in depicting human figures with more precision.
“I think being gay has [enabled me] to be more sensitive and that sensibility kinda opened the door to other doors,” he said. “From a gay point of view, of course [painting male figures] is attractive [because] that’s my attraction, but when it’s about art, I found that female figures are more flexible to work with.”
When it comes to the uniqueness of women overall, Romero thinks that the loving, maternal qualities that women possess endow them with a divine energy. This observation corresponds with the celestial aura Romero chose to incorporate into his depiction of his mother in “Mother of Mine.”
“If you look at most of the religious books in history, God symbolizes love,” Romero said. “And if you look at the characteristics of love…those are characteristics that belong to women…It’s something that you see mostly in mothers when they take care of their children…I think God can be a woman.”
Ultimately, Romero wants his art to be a source of emotional healing for people.
“I want when people look at my paintings [to] feel that all [their] anger, [sense of] injustice and any negative emotions go away,” he said.
Leonardo Montoya also has five pieces featured in the “Men Painting Women” exhibit: “Maria Bonita,” “Kusama,” “Grace,” “Twiggy” and “Lupita”. The pieces are taken from Montoya’s Diva Collection, a set of paintings that draw inspiration from female figures in popular culture. Montoya began the collection in 2015 with a portrait of film actress Audrey Hepburn.
Montoya’s artistic fascination with the depiction of women is a reflection of the personal network of women in his own life and what these individuals have given him emotionally.
“Growing up, I was surrounded by a group of strong, supportive women who provided me with a perspective of love, respect and admiration that remains strongly anchored and reflected in my life and artworks,” Montoya said.
Montoya’s style of painting women is influenced by realism and retro art, as he often strives to portray the subjects of his paintings in a way that honors their unique legacies.
“All of this comes from a place of nostalgia for the past but with the influence of colors from the comic books that I have collected through the years since I was a little boy,” Montoya said.
As an extension of portraying women who are often considered cultural icons, Montoya has developed a deeper appreciation for women and the struggles they endure in navigating a patriarchal society.
“[These women] really [had] to fight for a place in their careers in a world dominated by men,” Montoya said.
Donohue said that the admiration Montoya has for the women he depicts is evident in the way he uses color throughout his pieces.
“The use of bright colors in Leonardo’s work gives all of the women he depicts a joyful glow,” he said. “It’s clear the reverence he has for his subjects and it’s hard to not to smile when you see any of his pieces.”
Montoya immigrated to the United States from Colombia when he was 27 years old. As a child, he found refuge in visual art, which provided him emotional relief from the social unrest that was gripping his hometown at the time.
“[T]he 1980’s in Medellin was…the height of the [drug] cartels[,] when violence raged across the country and permeated families and the entire society,” Montoya said. “As a sensitive child growing up in this violence and also being bullied, art became my escape. At a very young age[,] I developed a fascination for the human form, superheroes and Greek mythology.”
As a gay man, Montoya views his queerness as allowing him to have a more comprehensive perception of women.
“[E]ven [though] I admire their beauty and sex appeal[,] my focus is center[ed]…[on] their legacies and struggles,” he said.
Montoya hopes that people walk away from the exhibit with a renewed appreciation for human diversity and individuality.
“I would like for the audience to appreciate the diversity of [each] artist and their perspective on the same subject,” he said. “I think that what make[s] us all equal is that we are all different[.] [I]t may sound [like] a contradiction[,] but I believe [that] diversity and equality are based on that principle.”
Montoya believes that art can bring emotional restoration to people and begin to alleviate some of the psychological turmoil spurred by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Art can be the one thing that offer[s] us solace and peace and for that I would like to quote the French artist Louise Bourgeois who said ‘Art is restoration: the idea is to repair the damages that are inflicted in life, to make something that is fragmented – which is what fear and anxiety do to a person- into something whole,’” Montoya shared.
Romero also believes that art can provide a form of solace to people during the pandemic, as well as bring them together in a new way.
“Now, people probably have more time to sit in their houses and look at [the] art that they have purchased and relax because that’s we need…We need something to relieve the stress [and] anxiety,” he said. “They [also] have more time to do activities that they haven’t done before with their children…Galleries and museums are [places that can bring families together].”
Donohue said that the mutual kinship found in art is something that should be particularly cherished during this period of social isolation that has been brought on by the pandemic.
“I do believe [art is] a universal language,” Donohue said. “So, in in a time when we are all dealing with the consequences of physical distancing and extended periods of isolation, the tethers of connection that art affords us should be especially treasured.”
Donohue urges people who have derived enjoyment or a sense of solace from consuming art to support their favorite artists, given that many artists have been financially compromised as a result of the pandemic.
“This pandemic has been particularly challenging for people whose livelihood comes from creating art,” he said. “I would encourage anyone to contemplate how often art has benefitted them during this time – even if only for the purpose of escapism – and consider supporting artists whose work has resonated with them.”
A reception for the exhibit may take place in August depending on overall conditions as they relate to the spread of COVID-19 in Florida, according to Shirk’s official website. Romero also shared that Shirk plans to expand the exhibit beyond its showing at the Orlando Public Library and reach out to additional male artists who specialize in painting women to feature their works.
“Men Painting Women” will remain open at the Orlando Public Library through Aug. 31. The library is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To view Romero’s work from the exhibit online, click here. For additional updates on Romero’s work, visit his official Facebook page. To view Montoya’s work from the exhibit online, click here. For additional updates on Montoya’s work, visit his official website.
