Nu Azul 1997

Beatriz Milhazes made ‘Nu Azul’ with a bold, graphic style, full of swirling colors and shapes that kind of vibrate against each other. It’s a real party for the eyes! The first thing you notice is the layering. It's almost like she’s building up a collage with paint, creating depth and texture that invite you to look closer. There's this push and pull between flatness and dimension. I mean, look at those circular patterns, like targets or flowers, floating on top of each other. Then there’s the color – wow! That central purple surrounded by white flowers. It really pops, drawing your eye right in. The whole thing feels celebratory, a little bit psychedelic, and definitely playful. Milhazes makes me think of Matisse, another master of color and pattern, but with a Brazilian twist. Both artists remind us that painting can be a joyous, sensual experience, a way of seeing the world as a garden of endless possibilities.