Teresa Oaxaca — Contemporary American Artist who Paints with a Renaissance Twist

teresa-oaxaca-contemporary-american-artist-renaissance-self-portrait

I am entranced by the American painter Teresa Oaxaca—not only by her paintings but also by
the artist herself.

At the age of 12, she discovered Leonardo da Vinci and by age 15 she decided to make art her career. Oaxaca, originally from Sacramento, California, studied in Florence, Italy, and now lives in the Washington D.C. area.

Her fascination for Renaissance fashions is immediately recognizable and shows in her paintings, and by the way she dresses

Oaxaca’s style is lush, bold and playful and a little kitchy—which I find absolutely fascinating. She focuses on dressing her subjects in elaborate costumes, and even more outrageous hair styles. But, the intricate details and accessories she adds into the mix make for delightful viewing. Each painting has a story to tell, and the viewer can easily lose himself in the rich bold colors, discerning their meanings.

I think that is it wonderful that Oaxaca immerses herself so thoroughly in her art, creating elaborate hand-designed frames and also wearing the gowns of a by-gone era bringing them back to life and making them contemporary once again.