John Tarahteeff, “The Grand Canal”, Date Unknown, Acrylic on Canvas, Private Collection

An enigmatic figurative painter, Tarahteef combines Realism with a sort of contemporary Mannerism. His paintings of elongated, almost unnatural-looking characters can be humorous and unsettling, striking emotional chords in the viewer of amusement and sometimes disorientation. His acrylic paintings use tight composition, pale lighting, and plays of scale to hint to a deep and compelling narrative that remains slightly elusive.