Yulissa Cortinas is a contemporary figurative artist based in New York City. Her work explores fragmented experiences, shadowy truths, and the nuances of subjective reality.
Influenced primarily by the reflection of past and present moments turned memories, Cortinas captures both the physical body and the mental dialogue, of private still moments. Her work centers on what it means to be, and how we understand ourselves despite the complexities of trauma, loss, and the hardships of self-discovery.
She aims to develop a visual language that conveys contemporary concerns and draws awareness to disturbing feelings that are often difficult to discuss. With ambiguity being the tool that molds the viewer’s interpretation, Cortinas’ work captures quiet, intimate moments hinged on personal connections, while imbuing them with femininity, introspection, and a delicate sense of movement and light. She displays strength intertwined with vulnerability and how emotions play the role of puppeteers manipulating the human body. Her paintings scrutinize deep human feelings, evoking innermost connections to the soul through the tactile substance of paint and other mediums.