Lylliana Mendoza Torres

From the curator: Lily’s portrait appears in the catalog with neither commentary from her family nor from the artist, Rebecca Hoenig. ( Artists and family members/friends of the people in the portraits are offered the opportunity to write a paragraph for the catalog, but not all choose to do so.)

One of the reasons the portraits are unaccompanied by commentary when they are on exhibition is that we want the viewer to fully engage with the image that the artist has created. This “reading” of the artwork, instead of an extensive explanatory label, is a very powerful and emotional experience. The artist reveals so much through choice of viewpoint, details added to the figure, attitude of the figure, color, and on and on.

Looking at Lily we get her full attention with her direct gaze. The tilt of her head, down turn of the corners of her mouth, and angle of her shoulders suggests a “hands on hips” bemusement. The flowers in her hair, perhaps a lovely reference to her name, suggest that she is gentle and pensive in spite of her posture. The lack of detail in the background brings the focus to her face and the flowers framing it. I can only imagine she must have been an interesting person and a joy to have known.

Lily Portrait of Lylliana Mendoza Torres by Rebecca Hoenig watercolor on paper 12”x18” 2019