2024 | Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas | Original Framed Painting
Love is rarely as simple as an X and an O.
In Valentine, a striking female figure emerges from a restrained grayscale composition, her face rendered in expressive charcoal against a softly textured gray background. Her upward gaze and composed expression create a sense of quiet intensity, while bold gestures of crimson red and electric pink interrupt the monochromatic surface.
Across the lower portion of the painting, oversized X and O symbols introduce the familiar visual language of hugs, kisses, and romantic affection. Their aggressive scale and spontaneous application, however, complicate their traditionally sentimental meaning. What initially appears to be a declaration of love begins to suggest something more ambiguous: the tension between affection and possession, intimacy and independence, and the expectations attached to being desired.
The contrast between the carefully rendered female figure and the raw, expressive marks creates a powerful visual dialogue. Her identity remains distinct from the symbols surrounding her, challenging the idea that a woman's value or experience can be reduced to romantic attention.
Part of Alissa Van Atta's She's a Mess collection, Valentine explores the contradictions of femininity, vulnerability, and emotional connection. The painting balances beauty with disruption, inviting viewers to reconsider the difference between being loved, being desired, and being truly seen.
Bold, provocative, and unapologetically expressive, Valentine transforms familiar symbols of romance into a contemporary exploration of female identity and autonomy.
A Note on the Artwork's History
Created in 2024, Valentine also survived Hurricane Helene, which devastated Western North Carolina in September of that year. Her survival adds another chapter to the painting's history, connecting this original work to a defining moment for the artist and the region she calls home.
Artwork Details
Artist: Alissa Van Atta
Title: Valentine
Year: 2024
Medium: Acrylic and charcoal on canvas
Artwork Dimensions: 30 H × 24 W × 0.75 D inches
Framed Dimensions: 31 H × 25 W × 1.5 D inches
Collection: She's a Mess
Presentation: Framed original artwork
Original: One-of-a-kind painting
Availability: Available
Price: $3,000
Original artwork by Alissa Van Atta.
2024 | Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas | Original Framed Painting
Love is rarely as simple as an X and an O.
In Valentine, a striking female figure emerges from a restrained grayscale composition, her face rendered in expressive charcoal against a softly textured gray background. Her upward gaze and composed expression create a sense of quiet intensity, while bold gestures of crimson red and electric pink interrupt the monochromatic surface.
Across the lower portion of the painting, oversized X and O symbols introduce the familiar visual language of hugs, kisses, and romantic affection. Their aggressive scale and spontaneous application, however, complicate their traditionally sentimental meaning. What initially appears to be a declaration of love begins to suggest something more ambiguous: the tension between affection and possession, intimacy and independence, and the expectations attached to being desired.
The contrast between the carefully rendered female figure and the raw, expressive marks creates a powerful visual dialogue. Her identity remains distinct from the symbols surrounding her, challenging the idea that a woman's value or experience can be reduced to romantic attention.
Part of Alissa Van Atta's She's a Mess collection, Valentine explores the contradictions of femininity, vulnerability, and emotional connection. The painting balances beauty with disruption, inviting viewers to reconsider the difference between being loved, being desired, and being truly seen.
Bold, provocative, and unapologetically expressive, Valentine transforms familiar symbols of romance into a contemporary exploration of female identity and autonomy.
A Note on the Artwork's History
Created in 2024, Valentine also survived Hurricane Helene, which devastated Western North Carolina in September of that year. Her survival adds another chapter to the painting's history, connecting this original work to a defining moment for the artist and the region she calls home.
Artwork Details
Artist: Alissa Van Atta
Title: Valentine
Year: 2024
Medium: Acrylic and charcoal on canvas
Artwork Dimensions: 30 H × 24 W × 0.75 D inches
Framed Dimensions: 31 H × 25 W × 1.5 D inches
Collection: She's a Mess
Presentation: Framed original artwork
Original: One-of-a-kind painting
Availability: Available
Price: $3,000
Original artwork by Alissa Van Atta.
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