K.B Cleary

My portrait practice relies on the use of old forgotten photographs, in particular ones of distant relatives, myself and even pets. The means by which I create my art is integral to the outcome. The use of charcoal on painted paper is crucial in recreating the monochromatic nature of not just these aged photographs but the world in which these characters resided.

For the past year, I have focused on studying male members of my family in order to visually grasp how notions of masculinity have changed, warped, evolved or devolved down through the generations. Through an examination of my subject’s psychological state of mind, I attempt to portray how their lives were affected by imposed gender or societal expectations. In doing so, I seek to bring these people back to life to open a visual dialogue with them.