Exhibition Review: Portraits and Interiors by Mike Silva at the Anton Kern Gallery
© Mike Silva, “Ken” image courtesy the artist and Anton Kern Gallery, New York
Written by Margarita Matta
Photo Edited by Tania Flores
Copy Edited by Erin Pedigo
Portraits and Interiors, an exhibition by Mike Silva at the Anton Kern Gallery, explores the multifaceted relationship between painting and photography and shows the two can be combined to create hyper-realistic new pieces of art. This is Silva’s first individual exhibition in New York City. It comprises paintings made from selected images of his photography portfolio. In creating new pieces of art, Silva exquisitely combines the vulnerability of photography with the emotional range of his paintings.
© Mike Silva, “Jason Hyde Park” image courtesy the artist and Anton Kern Gallery, New York "
The portraits of Portraits and Interiors are each titled by the subject’s first name, adding a layer of personification to each. Each portrait seems quite intimate despite all the subjects looking away from the camera. Jason (Hyde Park) (2022) perhaps best exemplifies this mood. This piece depicts a man lying on a jacket spread on the grass in a park, posed as if he is sleeping. Photographic elements such as framing the subject and using light and balance only deepen the realness and the closeness the viewer feels. The angle of the photograph-turned- painting is such that the viewer might feel they are next to the subject in the grass, allowing the viewer to create a story from the emotions derived by observing.
© Mike Silva, “Bedroom” image courtesy the artist and Anton Kern Gallery, New York
Silva’s interiors in the showcase also create a hyper-realistic sense of shared spaces, shared moments, by giving sometimes furtive-feeling, sometimes coveted glimpses into the lives of strangers. Bedroom (2022) shows a mattress recently slept in, with sheets rumpled and pillows askew. The viewer is forced to make their own assumptions based on the scene—who slept in this bed? Why was their sleep seemingly so restless? Where are they now? The scene has bare walls, lack of light but presence of shadows, and an overall plainness. This allows the viewer to continue telling the story. Silva helps suggest that less is often more and allows for a more creative approach to art.
© Mike Silva, “Morning light” image courtesy the artist and Anton Kern Gallery, New York
Morning Light (Berlin) (2022) is perhaps the epitome of Portraits and Interiors, combining Silva’s talent for capturing architectural interiors with the unguardedness of each human subject he portrays. In Morning Light (Berlin) the subject peers out of an open window, perhaps getting a breath of fresh air before starting their day. The subject’s vibrant orange sweater is the focal point, and follows the abundant shadows and light that highlight the geometric exploration of the room. The setting creates a peaceful, detailed glimpse into the subject’s morning routine, with coffee mugs, papers, and plants sprawled across the emerald-green table in the foreground. Silva uses simplicity in Portraits and Interiors to create a fascinating, almost private-feeling portfolio of paintings. The photographic elements that often get lost in artwork exceed expectations here, and the careful attention to lighting, framing, and composition are not overlooked in the slightest.
© Mike Silva, “sink” image courtesy the artist and Anton Kern Gallery, New York
The Portraits and Interiors exhibition will be on display at the Anton Kern Gallery, 16 E 55th Street, New York City, until this Saturday, June 18, 2022. To view more of this Exhibit visit here.
