Using nails, strings, pieces of wood, paper, bottle caps, and sunflower seeds to create portraits

Top Stories

Digital art portraiture of H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, UAE and ruler Dubai, by Charlie Villagracia
Digital art portraiture of H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, UAE and ruler Dubai, by Charlie Villagracia

Every face tells a story at this virtual art exhibition, opening Saturday

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Wed 19 Aug 2020, 1:13 PM

Last updated: Wed 19 Aug 2020, 3:50 PM

Faces tell stories, these stories could be of grit and grief, love and loss, strength and solitude, and more. Often, a smile on a face narrates more than words could. And that's what makes The Faces: A Season of Portraiture, a virtual art exhibition, a must-attend. Opening this Saturday, it features the artworks of 50 artists from all over the world and will be on for another month at the platform, artsteps.com. Says the curator Jesno Jackson, Art4you Gallery, "The main goal of this project is to create a communal space for people to exhibit their art. As for now, it is almost impossible to do so in traditional gallery spaces. The project also reflects the way societies must reinvent themselves and come up with new, more communal ways to express and exhibit."  
The curation for the same began three months ago, and whilst you'll see portraits of leaders, singers, and more; what will catch your eye is the different mediums used to create the same. Think nails and strings, pieces of wood, bottle caps, and even sunflower seeds! As for the genre of styles, there's pop art, impressionism, abstract art, etc. The virtual space will be divided into four different areas, allowing you to walk through, stop and admire the portraits. "We aspire to celebrate the diversity of portraiture, which is a fascinating genre," says Jackson.
We'll leave you with a glimpse of what awaits. We're in love with quite a few, especially the digital art portraiture of H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister, UAE and ruler Dubai, by Charlie Villagracia and the paper cut work by Gtnart of UAE's founding father, Sheikh Zayed. Our other favourites include nail and string expression of Bob Marley by Hafsa Banu, Prithviraj' sculpture made with pieces of wood by Davinci Suresh, and a portrait created by the late artist, Mary Ellen Croteau, created with bottle caps. Do drop by, virtually, and let us know which one is your favourite, and what story did the portraits narrate to you.

Prithviraj’ sculpture made with pieces of wood by Davinci Suresh
Prithviraj’ sculpture made with pieces of wood by Davinci Suresh
A portrait by the late artist, Mary Ellen Croteau, created with bottle caps.
A portrait by the late artist, Mary Ellen Croteau, created with bottle caps.
Nail art expression by Slam Austin
Nail art expression by Slam Austin

More news from