We often mistakenly tend to think of oil painting as something from the past. Fortunately, there are still those who dedicate themselves to this kind of art and it is surprising to see the results. One such artist is Olivia Bloch-Lainé, a French artist who manages to mix past and present in her paintings.
Born in 1972, Olivia studied at the École nationale supérieure des arts visuels of La Cambre in Brussels and continued her specialisation by following a course at the Sorbonne. Her artistic production is made up of large canvases in which real and surreal elements mix, creating a unique and original imagery.
Olivia Bloch-Lainé’s style is reminiscent of vintage postcards and advertising posters from the 1950s, but she is also inspired by her surroundings, what she sees in newspapers and on the Internet. This gives a timeless feel to each painting, making them difficult to place in time.
Even in the subjects she paints we find time passing and changing things as a central theme. For example, there are some canvases showing people in their own flats and next to them, faded like ghosts, the previous tenants. Another recurring element in Olivia Bloch-Lainé’s work are the female figures that distance themselves from the women of the 1950s and invite us to reflect on how roles in society are changing.
Read also: Melancholy and solitude in the paintings by Nigel Van Wieck
We have selected just a few of her works, but to find out more visit her website and follow her on Instagram.
