Paul Richmond: Paintings from His “War Paint” Series
“I created War Paint because I was interested in exploring the concept of identity – how we construct our sense of self and choose to reveal it to others. As a young gay man, I grew up feeling inadequate by the standards of masculinity that were presented to me. War Paint is about ignoring the status quo and boldly wearing the colors that represent who we are and how we relate to the world around us.
Everyone faces battles in their daily lives, and how we prepare for them is an important part of who we are. I hope people feel a sense of recognition or connection with the psychological states of the figures depicted in War Paint and maybe even create a story in their own minds about where they are heading or from what battlefield they are returning.” -Paul Richmond