Art Liard's Still Lifes Explore Memory and Mortality Through Everyday Objects

Alina Gorokhovodatskaia, who works under the name Art Liard, creates still-life paintings and drawings that probe questions of memory, mortality, and meaning. Her subjects include simple objects like a scarf, a fish, a tree, a raven, a flower pot, and roses. Each work invites viewers to consider deeper narratives beyond surface appearances. The fish, for instance, references 16th- and 17th-century memento mori traditions, prompting reflection on life's transience. A sketched tree highlights the vast timescale of nature compared to human existence, while a painted raven suggests the inscrutable inner lives of intelligent animals. Her compositions often encourage slow-looking, drawing inspiration from artists like Giorgio Morandi and Paul Cézanne. In her rose series, heavy impasto creates textured surfaces that contrast with the subject's softness. The artist's work is available for viewing on her website and Instagram. All images are copyrighted to the artist.