Title: Sofia Vivian (Originally ‘Brittany Vivian’) from the Series “Lost Girls”

Materials: Acrylic on Canvas

Date: New York, 2017

Dimensions: 30” X 40”

(Signed to the reverse)

Meet Sofia Vivian, a curiously abstracted portrait of a woman by contemporary NYC artist Cesar Finamori (b. 1967) from his ‘Lost Girls’ series. First impressions of this minimalist figure, comprised of clean black lines against a white field, may bring to mind the modern art movements of first half of the 20th century, noting the flattened geometric forms and sharp outline of her refined pose, vintage curled hairstyle and cupid’s bow lips. Amongst the array of uniquely designed, surreal female faces from this series, Sofia embodies the methodical process Cesar follows in producing his Vivian paintings, their titular surnames a nod to the work of outsider artist Henry Darger (1892-1973), whose obsession with gender, spirituality and power inspired a psychologically charged visual fantasy epic.

Cesar’s modus operandi begins with breaking down and removing distinct vestiges of humanity from the subject of which the portrait is based; natural details, texture, dimensionality and all tethers to reality are omitted, leaving only primitive recognition of form and gesture. The artist, meditating on the energy and emotion he draws forth, applies circles and lines, layered by translucent coats of paint, to shape and breathe life into Sofia.

Born in Brazil and based in Manhattan at present for over a decade, Cesar Finamori began his Vivian paintings and the ‘Lost Girls’ series in 2016. His works have been featured in several art shows, including Sotheby’s New York MvVO AD ART Show in 2018, as well as the SoHo Superfine Art Fair in 2019. In January 2020, selections from the series were highlighted in an article of the The Cut – New York Magazine*. Throughout his artistic career, he has directed and contributed creative lead to numerous graphic design, advertising and artistic projects, with a great deal of inspiration from everyday metropolitan life.

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2019 – Fillinglobal 24X24 , “Vivian Girls” SoHo, New York City, NY, USA

2019 – Superfine Art Fair SoHo NY, “Vivian Girls” New York City, NY, USA

2019 – Oculus Westfield WTC | Link NYC, MvVO ADART Show, “Vivian Girls” New York City, NY, USA

2019 – 100 Pieces , “Henrietta Vivian” Los Angeles, CA, USA

2019 – Kartell SOHO NY, “Vivian Girls”  New York City, NY, USA

2018 – Sotheby’s, MvVO ADART Show, “Vivian Girls” New York City, NY, USA

2018 – Fillinglobal, “Vivian Girls” LES New York City, NY, USA

2018 – The Other Art Fair, “Vivian Girls” Brooklyn, NY, USA

2017 – The Other Art Fair, “Vivian Girls” Brooklyn, NY, USA

2017 – The Other Art Fair, “Vivian Girls” Brooklyn, NY , USA

2007 – Group show “Grafuck” Nucleus Gallery, Alhambra, CA, USA

Solo Exhibitions:

2008 – Solo show “NY Downtown train” Emporio Naka, São Paulo Brazil

2002 – Solo show “Stealing feet” at CASA, São Paulo, Brazil

*https://www.thecut.com/2020/01/tour-a-1907-apartment-in-a-triangle-shaped-building.html