My primary source is the world as it is now. I record and document what I know about contemporary culture. My work has been influenced by many aspects of modern life including film, advertising, music, news and graphic design. At the same time I find that aspects of history have stayed with me, especially those given over to an allegorical reading of culture and individual impulses: German medieval art, expressionism, and artists from El Greco to Matisse. My references to classical mythology and literature enable me to link the old with the new. Over time, these influences, often at odds with one another, have resulted in a tense stalemate between historical/classical ideas and modern reality.

In common with many contemporary artists I work in series—one body of work is inspired by classical nudes, ranging from Botticelli’s Venus to Michelangelo’s David which spiral forward towards the net of modern urban life. Other paintings retell classical stories such as the fall of Icarus, or biblical themes such as the tale of Susanna and the Elders. Another series is an homage to women, which I believe comes from being raised by a single parent—a hardworking, strong and intelligent mother. New series in development focus on revised looks at landscape and American sports.

My method, in which I combine elements of classical and contemporary art to arrive at an expressionistic and painterly style, is repeated in my choice of subject matter. I often recreate classical beings in a modernist setting. In so doing, I always strive to be respectful of tradition without being bound by it.

Phil Joanou