Marc Chagall
once said that, “Color is all. When color is right, form is right.
Color is everything, color is vibration like music; everything is
vibration.” In the same vein, Contemporary Colombian
and American
artist
Cecilia Del Toro paints luminous, kaleidoscopic paintings often
showing women in contemplative states. Her paintings command
attention through their exuberant use of color and light while the
alluring eyes of her subjects engage and entrance the viewer. Ms. Del
Toro’s images are both visually enchanting and intriguingly cerebral.
This dazzling juxtaposition allows for the viewer to be lulled into a
metaphysical state.
The
vibrant colors and stylized quality of Ms. Del Toro’s artworks place
her work in the canon of Pop Artists such as Roy Lichtenstein or Andy
Warhol; however, the underlying tone of magical happenings in her work
suggests the possible influence of surreal and fantasy painters such
as Marc Chagall. Ms. Del Toro paints in a symbolic manner
particularly through focusing on elements of a face which is linked to
emotions, such as a pair of soulful eyes or vibrant lips, rather than
executing an exact likeness. Intense light floods each painting from
an undefined source, giving the subject a heavenly illumination. Ms.
Del Toro’s signature use of ruby red lips in her portraiture lends her
artwork a seductive air. The bright red pouts seem to pop-off the
canvas as though ready to kiss the spectator. The startling red lips
are contrasted with the predominantly used dreamy pastel color palette
of hues such as soft violet, powder pink and cool cobalt. Apart from
portraiture, Ms. Del Toro paints brilliant surreal canvases which
portray her emotions to the viewer, as seen with her depiction of a
halved human heart expelling a flurry of musical notes. The vivid
color and light communicate to the viewer the intense emotion that Ms.
Del Toro channels into her artwork. A manifestation of enormous love
she feels for all the creatures of the world, Ms. Del Toro’s artwork
embraces the soul and captivates the heart of each viewer.
A current
resident of the state of Florida, Cecilia Del Toro was a general
practitioner and surgeon in her native country of Colombia before
focusing on her artwork. Ms. Del Toro has received several awards for
her painting. Amsterdam Whitney Gallery is delighted to showcase her
art.
- Ruthie Tucker,
Art Curator
