Descrição
“Hold On II” (2025)
“Hold On II” is a compelling exploration of emotional resilience, memory, and vulnerability, created in 2025 by Brazilian artist Ritchelly Oliveira. The painting captures the figure of a young man in a raw, introspective pose—arms entangled, body bare, eyes turned away in an expression that feels both tender and unresolved. Surrounding him are three birds in mid-flight, their wings caught in a moment of urgent movement, seemingly connected to his body like emotional extensions.
Set against a rich yellow background, the contrast is both visual and symbolic. The warm, saturated color vibrates with energy, while the black-and-grey rendering of the figure and birds in charcoal and acrylic speaks to the weight of introspection, trauma, and inner conflict.
This painting exemplifies Ritchelly’s singular visual language—a synthesis of figurative realism and emotional symbolism. The birds, a recurring motif in the artist’s work, are not mere adornments. They serve as metaphors for memories, wounds, and the recurring echoes of formative experiences. In “Hold On II”, they pierce the surface of the subject’s form, suggesting the difficulty of detachment, the persistence of pain, and the beauty of endurance.
The pose of the figure, intimate and closed in on itself, invites reflection on how emotional states inhabit the body. This psychological depth, paired with a striking compositional balance and intense color contrast, creates a piece that is visually powerful and deeply affective.
Ritchelly Oliveira continues to emerge as a distinctive voice in contemporary Brazilian art, known for merging autobiographical depth with universal emotion. “Hold On II” is not simply a portrait—it is a narrative of survival, tenderness, and transformation. It belongs to the artist’s ongoing body of work addressing affective relationships, personal healing, and human fragility.
This piece offers not only technical mastery but also strong conceptual continuity, ideal for collectors seeking works that resonate emotionally and intellectually.
