Bouquet with Lemons

About Bouquet with Lemons

This contemporary still life oil painting features yellow flowers and a bowl of lemons.

As a teenager, Toronto artist Mike Rachlis used to make his mark by creating graffiti on walls in public spaces. That free spirit, the desire to paint with wild abandon is still evident in his recent critically acclaimed work.
While his art is rooted in traditional painting and portraiture, his gestural brushstrokes, liberal use of impasto, and vivid colour palettes are wholly contemporary. This classic still life of a bouquet of bright yellow flowers in a blue and white vase with a bowl of lemons is made contemporary by the masterful application of paint. Drippings, mark making, abstracted form and a bold palette modernize the piece.

“My paintings are basically about self-destruction. In these recent works, I often scrape back or paint over large sections of the image, or move parts of the painting itself. They’re partial clearly edited constructive narratives. I really hate how delicate painting is perceived to be so I really betray that and the image itself.” Mike Rachlis

Mike Rachlis graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) in 2013 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He has exhibited throughout Canada and the United States. His work is held in private collections around the world.