Día de los Muertos

Día de los Muertos began as a celebration of the lives of fine artists. I later expanded the series to include musicians and others whom I have come to admire and who, through their work, have enriched humanity in transcendental ways. Some of the portraits contain a sort of Easter egg, with the skeletal nostrils shaped to symbolize something about the person portrayed. I have taken the sacrilegious audacity of elevating these figures to a kind of sainthood, represented by the flame above their skulls. Each is celebrated for their contribution, regardless of the complexities of their personal lives.

Acrylic-and-charcoal painting of Frida Kahlo depicted as a Día de los Muertos skeleton figure, accompanied by the skeleton of her pet monkey. A flame appears above her skull.

Frida

c. 2010 · Acrylic and charcoal on cradled plywood · 24 × 16 in.

Acrylic-and-charcoal painting of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera depicted as Día de los Muertos skeleton figures, with the towering figure of Diego standing behind the much smaller Frida. Flames appear above their skulls.

Frida y Diego

c. 2009 · Acrylic and charcoal on cradled plywood · 32 × 18 in.

Acrylic-and-charcoal painting of Pablo Picasso depicted as a blue Día de los Muertos skeleton figure, resting one skeletal hand against his forehead, with a flame above his skull.

Pablo

2006 · Acrylic and charcoal on cradled plywood · 24 × 16 in.

Acrylic-and-charcoal painting of Salvador Dalí depicted as a Día de los Muertos skeleton figure, with his distinctive curled mustache and a small yellow star held between his skeletal fingers. A flame appears above his skull.

Salvador

2006 · Acrylic and charcoal on cradled plywood · 24 × 16 in.

Acrylic-and-charcoal painting of Andy Warhol depicted as a Día de los Muertos skeleton figure, with bright orange hair, a blue turtleneck, and one skeletal hand resting against his chest. A flame appears above his skull.

Andy

2006 · Acrylic and charcoal on cradled plywood · 24 × 16 in.

Acrylic-and-charcoal painting of John Lennon depicted as a Día de los Muertos skeleton figure, with round glasses, long hair, and a beard, raising a skeletal hand in a peace sign. A flame appears above his skull, with a small window showing flowers and a cloud behind him.

John

2007 · Acrylic and charcoal on cradled plywood · 24 × 16 in.

Acrylic-and-charcoal painting of Michael Jackson depicted as a Día de los Muertos skeleton figure, wearing a fedora over long dark hair and raising one skeletal hand beside his face. A flame appears above his hat.

Michael

2007 · Acrylic and charcoal on cradled plywood · 24 × 16 in.

Acrylic-and-charcoal painting of Bob Marley depicted as a Día de los Muertos skeleton figure, with long green dreadlocks and his left skeletal hand held near his chin. A flame appears above his skull.

Bob

2007 · Acrylic and charcoal on cradled plywood · 24 × 16 in.

Acrylic-and-charcoal painting of Albert Einstein depicted as a Día de los Muertos skeleton figure, with wild yellow hair and a pipe held in one skeletal hand.

Albert

2008 · Acrylic and charcoal on cradled plywood · 24 × 16 in.

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