WorkArt & Culture

Flesh paintings by Edie Nadelhaft get under your skin

New York-based artist Edie Nadelhaft has created this unusual series of oil paintings to explore a human’s biological surfaces. Entitled 'Flesh', the hyperrealistic paintings take reference from photographs of the artist’s own hands, but are all blown out of proportion.

Written By:
Magnified close-up of skin texture showing intricate network of lines, folds and striations in shades of pink and red from Edie Nadelhaft's Flesh series

Nadelhaft explains: "They depict the surfaces of my hands magnified to such a degree that their objective meaning is no longer perceived. Showcasing tiny (about one half inch) stretches of my left hand, and seen from such close range that the folds of flesh and striations in the skin make up the entire composition in most cases, the skin is described as an intricate network of lines and bulges that could just as easily be an aerial view of some fictional landscape or a topographical map.

"The patterns seem infinitely complex, yet I always locate an underlying geometry that anchors the picture and provides at least the appearance of order while highlighting the dual qualities of vitality and vulnerability that characterise physical existence."

Hyperrealistic oil painting of magnified skin showing intricate network of folds, lines and striations that resemble an aerial landscape or topographical map
Close-up view of magnified skin showing intricate folds, lines and textures in shades of coral and pink
Hyperrealistic oil painting of magnified human skin showing folds, striations and delicate surface details in soft pink and red tones
Magnified close-up of skin texture showing intricate lines, folds and striations in shades of red and pink across a gridded surface
Hyperrealistic oil painting of magnified human skin showing open mouth with teeth, lips and interior surfaces in vivid red and pink tones by Edie Nadelhaft
Share

Further Reading

Take the Creative Boom survey

Take the Creative Boom Survey