Artist's Statement

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Olav Ellison’s painting lies at the intertwines abstract and figurative symbolism. Influenced by the visceral intensity of De Kooning, the raw brutality of Francis Bacon, and the sensual chaos of Cecily Brown, he explores themes of nihilism, self-divination, and delusions of certainty. Yet, beneath these dark themes lies an unshakable truth: beauty persists everywhere, unyielding to the vileness that seeks to overshadow it. He captures the tension between humanity’s desperate grasp for meaning and the resilience of the sublime.