“Portrait of Helen and Sydney” by Boris Torres; acrylic on paper, 18x24 inches, 2021

Portraits

Statement

A few years ago a friend commissioned me to paint his portrait from life. Once a week, for several months, he would come to my studio and sit for me. Afterwards I missed his visits and this led me to realize that painting a person from life allowed me to connect with them on a deeper level. Our exchange and shared experience was recorded with paint, permanently.  I started asking my friends to come and pose for me so that I could continue having these intimate experiences.

Many of the people who I have painted are artists and activists, and of this group, many are also queer. I consider them all "rebels" because they have impacted our community for the better through their work.  These portraits are of the people I love and admire and my desire is that they reflect something true about the person and of our time together.  Because of this, when the sitter leaves my studio the painting is finished. A record of what has occurred between us remains. 

Boris Torres