Phoebe Derlee

Phoebe Derlee employs bold, decisive brushstrokes to craft paintings that balance intimacy with emotional distance, frequently using herself as the subject. Her figures often appear isolated against vivid, monochromatic backgrounds, and her body of work spans from small to large-scale canvases. Derlee consistently explores the human form, reimagining and reconfiguring it.

In pursuit of poetic moments, her paintings embody a duality of power and tenderness, infused with a sense of both familiarity and estrangement. Loose brushwork, a rough rendering technique, and energetic, fluid mark-making mark her style. By utilizing fluid oil paint, she creates gestures that are simultaneously forceful and delicate, yielding a striking visual impact. The beginnings and ends of each brushstroke remain visible, highlighting sharp, deliberate moments that underscore the physicality and immediacy of her artistic process.