Signed on the back
Description of the Painting
A unique, atmospheric portrait of a woman rendered in deep, elegant shades of blue and warm browns. Subtle light brings out the model’s facial features, highlighting her gaze and the delicacy of her complexion, while the softly draped fabric creates a dynamic, almost cinematic composition.
The creative process is based on working with photographs of professional models, which serve as the starting point for the composition. The painting is then built up in layers—through multiple applications of oil paint, glazes, and the modeling of light and shadow. This creates an effect of depth, a velvety skin texture, and a realistic, almost three-dimensional quality to the fabric.
A meticulous oil painting technique allows for: subtle tonal transitions, a soft, painterly texture,
durability, and the refinement characteristic of classical easel painting.
The composition combines the classic elegance of a portrait with a modern, minimalist approach to color. It is a painting that infuses a space with an atmosphere of tranquility, focus, and timeless beauty.
Ideal for elegant spaces, studies, and modern interiors where detail, craftsmanship, and the emotional depth of the message matter most.
Rafał Stanula (b. 1991)
Rafał Stanula is one of the most distinctive representatives of contemporary realistic figurative art among the younger generation. He lives and works in Kraków, consistently building an international reputation as an artist who employs classical techniques within a modern, psychological approach to portraiture.
His oil paintings are distinguished by exceptional precision in chiaroscuro, subtle modeling, and an almost sculptural rendering of the face. Stanula focuses on the female form, creating compositions with a strong emotional and symbolic charge. The motif of a face partially obscured by tulle, a ribbon, or fabric has become his signature style—a metaphor for the tension between the visible and the hidden, between sensuality and introspection.
The minimalist background and limited color palette direct the viewer’s attention exclusively to the psychology of the figure. The effect is mesmerizing—Stanula’s paintings not only depict but also evoke a state of contemplation.
The artist regularly exhibits his work at prestigious international events, including in New York and Los Angeles, and his work has been featured in renowned art magazines. His inclusion in the exhibition programs of galleries such as Arcadia Contemporary and his participation in the LA Art Show reinforce his position in the contemporary realistic figurative art scene.
The international market is showing consistently growing interest in young, technically perfect figurative art, and Stanula’s work fits into this trend naturally and convincingly. His paintings are found in private collections in Europe, the U.S., and Asia, which attests to their stable and growing investment potential.
Stanula represents a generation of artists who combine classical craftsmanship with a modern sensibility—and it is precisely this segment of the market that has seen the most dynamic growth in collector interest in recent years.
Exhibitions (selection):
Five and Under, Arcadia Contemporary, New York, USA (2024, 2025) LA Art Show, Los Angeles, USA (2025) RED Gallery, Mościce Art Center, Tarnów (2024) Aura 2024, Nazrul Tirtha Art Gallery, Kolkata, India Emerging Art Exhibition, Salonou, Warsaw
Publications:
Fine Art Connoisseur (2024) Retro Kolkata Magazine (2024) 365 Art Plus Magazine (2022)
