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Yetunde and Jacob

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Riley Holloway
Painting
2017

University Hall, Third Floor

Hunting Prize finalist and figurative painter Riley Holloway currently works out of Dallas, TX. Born in Los Angeles, Holloway relocated to Arlington, VA at a young age. Growing up, he developed an early interest in art, learning from his mother, who is an artist herself. He attended The Art Institute of Dallas and the Florence Academy of Art, after which he was awarded an artist residency at The Fairmont Hotel in Dallas.

His contemporary portfolio primarily of portraits and still life compositions are developed in traditional oil painting and hand drawing. His subjects are people who inspire him, and Holloway pays homage to their stories and influences, beautifully revealing the substance of each subject. Emotions and personalities are expressed through bold palettes, symbolism, text, and cultural references, and each piece communicates a powerful and vulnerable story of identity.

Holloway studied at The Art Institute of Dallas and The Florence Academy of Art, Italy. He was awarded an artist residency at The Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, TX. His work has been shown at Art Basel Miami; his work is in private collections throughout the US.

This body of work was based on the individuals he encountered during his residency and felt compelled to paint.  Entitled “SHOOK!!!”, these ideas became more of a philosophy for Holloway than just a body of work. He began to see the importance in life of taking emotional experiences, often times difficult, and repurposing them so to speak.  The idea for him was to create something useful, something beautiful and something SHOOK!!!

Holloway uses a bold painterly technique to create depth within the portraits. Holloway’s aesthetics create familiar spaces that are rich in storytelling, free from constraints, and true to his subjects.  Holloway’s technique as well as his content are rich in drama and intimacy.

You can watch a conversation discussing his artwork and inspirations with art advisor Danielle Wohl in the Talks with the Artists interview series below.