Lexi Wood 

Vincent Giarrano's oil painting, 'Lexi Wood', presents a striking figure against an urban backdrop. At first glance, the painting reveals a tension between the figure and the ground, a play of contrasts in color and texture. The stark black dress of the figure stands out against the chaotic graffiti wall, a juxtaposition of order and disorder. The graffiti itself is rendered in bold, gestural strokes of black and white, with hints of red and other colors peeking through. Note the thick impasto of the paint, a tactile quality that brings the wall to life. Giarrano uses the backdrop to disrupt fixed meanings, and question the cultural codes of urban space and representation. He invites us to decode the signs and consider how they construct meaning within the painting, destabilizing established categories of beauty and urban decay. Ultimately, the painting suggests that meaning is not fixed but emerges from the interplay of elements and our own interpretation.