Selected works by Female Pentimento

Female Pentimento's photography project represents a profound exploration of identity, spirituality, and environmental advocacy, all interwoven with a narrative of self-discovery and radical pragmatism.

The Brooklyn-based artist, who opts for anonymity through their evocative moniker, draws inspiration from the concept of pentimento—where previous layers of painting reemerge through the surface—as a metaphor for their own complex identity and artistic journey.

Rooted in the religious symbolism of their Southern Virginia upbringing, Female Pentimento reclaims and transforms these influences into a visual language that transcends traditional boundaries. This reclamation is not merely an act of defiance but a means of introspection and liberation. Their celestial images, created through a blend of photography, post-production, and AI, depict ethereal creatures and otherworldly landscapes, offering viewers a glimpse into an alternative reality where the corporeal and the spiritual coexist.

Light plays a central role in their work, manifesting as beams, orbs, and caustic patterns that create a sense of otherworldliness. This manipulation of light not only enhances the ethereal quality of their images but also serves as a metaphor for the artist's journey towards self-understanding and liberation from societal constraints. The deliberate ambiguity in their visual language blurs the lines between reality and the supernatural, inviting viewers to question their perceptions and explore deeper layers of meaning.

Female Pentimento's approach to their practice is guided by principles of care, independence, and anonymity. By maintaining a day job in design, they afford themselves the freedom to be selective about their artistic collaborations, thereby preserving the integrity of their work. Their choice to shoot primarily on an iPhone underscores a commitment to immediacy and authenticity, allowing the environment to be captured as an extension of their vision.

The artist's intuitive process eschews traditional planning in favor of a more organic, stream-of-consciousness approach. Each piece begins with a photograph from their extensive archive, accumulated from travels across the United States and countries like Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Mexico. These images are then meticulously layered with elements from stock photography and AI, resulting in compositions that range from quickly realized visions to works that evolve over months.

Climate awareness is a recurring theme in Female Pentimento's work. Their images serve as a form of advocacy, highlighting the urgent need for conservation in the face of the climate crisis. Whether presenting idyllic worlds they wish to inhabit or stark, apocalyptic landscapes as warnings, their work carries a message of environmental stewardship that resonates deeply in the Anthropocene era.

Photography: Female Pentimento
Text: @zaxarov

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