Description

Strength in Numbers.

Strength in Numbers: A Bold Portrait of Collective Power and Defiant Unity,

Strength in Numbers is a painting that commands attention with its bold, unflinching gaze. A group of abstracted faces confronts the viewer head-on, each with its personality, yet unified in their collective stance. The figures do not retreat or soften—their defiance is palpable. This work highlights the psychological and political power of standing together, as well as the potential energy that arises when individuals become part of a collective.

The flattened, fragmented forms—evocative of Cubist and Neo-Expressionist traditions—underscore the complex identities that exist within any group. Their faces are fractured, brightly colored, and layered with emotional intensity, yet they are fused into a cohesive force. The piece suggests that, in numbers, people gain not only visibility but also power—power to protect, to protest, and to demand justice. However, it also quietly warns that the same power, when untethered from morality, can become intimidating, oppressive, or violent.

This duality—the group as both shield and weapon—is what gives the painting its tension. The vibrancy of the palette is not playful but insistent. It draws you in, but it also makes you confront the question: What happens when we stop standing alone?

Artist Statement

“This work is about the electric tension in collectivity—the moment when individuals find their voice in unity. I wanted each face to carry its emotional current, while also contributing to the larger pulse of the group. The figures look straight at you, unapologetically. They are bold, maybe even threatening. That’s intentional. Groups can protect and empower—think of protests, revolutions, or communities defending their rights. But I also wanted to hint at how collective strength, when corrupted, can intimidate or destroy. This painting is both a celebration and a caution: strength in numbers is real, but it’s not neutral.”

Art Overview

Style

• Neo-Expressionist with strong Cubist and abstract figurative influences

• Emotive use of color and form to suggest personality and psychological depth

• Bold, unapologetic visual language that foregrounds intensity over realism

Composition

• Frontal orientation with direct eye contact to create confrontation

• Overlapping figures symbolizing unity and the loss of individual separation

• Asymmetrical balance using shape and hue contrasts to generate visual tension.

• High saturation and varied facial features to suggest diversity within unity

Similar Artists

• Pablo Picasso – for Cubist fragmentation and political tension (e.g., Guernica)

• Jean-Michel Basquiat – for raw, expressive figuration and social commentary

• Kerry James Marshall – for group identity and the politics of visibility

• Francis Bacon – for psychological intensity within distortion

• Wangechi Mutu – for composite identity and collective symbolism