Untitled 

This untitled piece was made by Zoe Lerman using oil paint, a traditional medium with a long history. Notice how Lerman allows the qualities of the paint to come forward. The visible brushstrokes build up the image, giving it a sense of texture and immediacy. It’s not about illusionism, but rather about the direct transfer of energy from the artist's hand to the canvas. The choice of oil paint links Lerman to a lineage of painters extending back centuries, but her expressive, almost gestural application sets her apart. Think about the labor involved: grinding pigments, mixing colors, applying layer upon layer. It's a deliberate process, almost a dance between artist and material. By emphasizing process and materiality, Lerman challenges conventional notions of artistic skill, and in the process highlights the expressive potential inherent in this everyday medium.