by Kelsey Zalimeni

Carole's Pick for this month is an American painter named Alyssa Monks. Her hyperreal pieces are just as luscious as they are convincing.  The surfaces are rich with a wavy impasto texture; every aspect of her paintings incites the desire to touch.

Water is a staple element in Monks' oeuvre, whether the figure is submerged in, emerging from, or obscured by its presence.  Her ability to convey the glistening subtleties of water's interaction with human skin is truly remarkable.  The vast range within her palettes infer a mastery of color theory.

By virtue of their wetness, Monks' figures are overtly sexual and tantalizing.  Their gaze is often set to engage the viewer directly, peering out from the canvas in search of intimate interaction.

Carole first grew fond of Alyssa Monk's work when the two showed together in Germany at Kunstmuseum Ahlen.  Both were featured in in the exhibition Intimacy! Bathing in Art, as well as the show's resulting monograph.  Explore more of Alyssa Monks' paintings on her website here.