Composition with Faces 1965

Vudon Baklytsky made this "Composition with Faces" using loose brushstrokes and a striking palette of yellows, reds, and blues. It’s got that outsider-art vibe, raw and unpolished. Looking at it, I imagine Baklytsky slathering on the paint, maybe even using his fingers, building up these crude, powerful faces. The textures and colors are so in your face, you can almost feel his frustration or intensity. Are those flames in the mouth of the biggest face? Or maybe figures on a boat? There is a raw energy that reminds me of some of the expressionists. It’s like he's saying, "Here's what I see, take it or leave it." It's imperfect and so exposed. I like to think that artists such as Baklytsky are constantly pushing the boundaries of what painting can be, and that each of us can find a part of ourselves in this.