Antonia Constantine

Lives and works in Philadelphia, PA

Artist statement

My paintings explore introspection, agency, and connection through a playful bending of space, time, and bodies. I create ambiguous narratives set in claustrophobic architecture, with figures oscillating between stagnation and upheaval. The characters I depict are desperate to break cycles and self-actualize, often sabotaging themselves in the process. Moments of wonder twist with apprehension in scenes that attempt to capture life’s intensity and tenderness. These situations are born from my fascination with existential dread and the cultural tendency to obsessively turn inward when the world spins out of control. Although deeply human, this is ultimately dysfunctional and darkly humorous. My work examines the pitfalls of this compulsion, as well as the desire to connect with something beyond oneself. This results in highly organized compositions, ecstatic with saturated color, rhythmic shapes, and vivid light to evoke feelings familiar, yet strange and tell stories unreal, yet true.

Artwork