Elaborate Fragments of Line and Color Transform into Bodies and Landscapes in Lui Ferreyra’s Vibrant Compositions

A colorful oil painting of a mountain lake.

“Axis Mundi 3,” oil on linen, 72 x 48 inches. All images © Lui Ferreyra, shared with permission

The deceptively simple power of line and color comes into full force in Lui Ferreyra’s paintings and colored penciled drawings (previously). “I’ve been drawn to the figure and the human face from the beginning,” the artist tells Colossal. “The real subject matter of the work, however, is the breakdown of visual information itself.”

Puzzle-like compartments, which the artist describes as a “coarse-grain deconstruction of visual information,” fit together to highlight realistic body parts or dramatic scenery. Ferreyra is interested in the idea of gestalt, a term often often associated with the adage, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” and used in psychology to describe the way that human behavior and the mind are interconnected.

Initially, Ferreyra focused exclusively on human features, but over the past decade and a half, he has expanded his practice to include landscapes and portraits of animals. “I’ve really been drawn to reflections for the past few years—mirror images,” he says. “Often, even if the landscape doesn’t have a lake, I’ll create a made-up reflection… I seem to always change my approach and try something new.” For example, in “Axis Mundi 3,” he implemented a ripple pattern in the water, which was challenging to execute but adds a realistic sense of movement and distortion.

A few years ago, Ferreyra began incorporating neon colors into his compositions, which visually pop on the surface in relation to pastels or more saturated hues, and the artist continues to experiment with a tighter, more complex breakdown of shapes.

Explore more work on on Ferreyra’s website, purchase prints and original drawings in his shop, and follow updates on Instagram.