"Portrait In Dissolution" (2026) Original Acrylic Painting by Helena Wierzbicki

Portrait in Dissolution is an original contemporary figurative painting in acrylic on canvas, portraying a woman whose solid physical presence gradually dissolves into expressive colour and flowing paint. I wanted the portrait to hold a quiet, distant expression while the surrounding reds, deep blues, oranges and yellows create a much more intense emotional atmosphere.

The contrast between the pale female figure and the vibrant abstract background gives the painting its tension. At the lower part of the body, the paint stretches and breaks apart, suggesting transformation, vulnerability and the changing nature of identity.

I created this work by combining a recognizable female portrait with loose, gestural painting and abstract passages, allowing the figure to emerge from—and gradually become part of—the colour around her. The result is a contemporary expressionist portrait with a strong visual presence, suited to collectors drawn to figurative art, emotional portraiture and bold abstract colour.

Materials used:

Acrylic on canvas

Details:

• Acrylic painting on Other
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 52.32 x 69.85 x 3.05cm (unframed)
• Signed on the front
• Style: Expressive and gestural
• Subject: People and portraits