Artist Statement
Everyday Icons: Fluid Geometry and the Universal Woman
My work operates at the intersection of figurative painting and abstract relief sculpture, exploring the relationship between organic geometry, human presence, and precise craftsmanship. My artistic foundation was shaped by an early apprenticeship as a boatbuilder in Denmark, where I learned to master structure, fluid lines, and hand-crafted design. This discipline of visualizing and constructing complex physical forms now directly guides my three-dimensional works, while my dedication to classical composition was forged under the mentorship of Danish painter Børge Ibsen and refined through decades of painting, teaching, and studying in Canada and formal fine art studies in the United States.
In my figurative paintings, I seek an atmosphere of quiet, austere peace layered with a strong undertone of contemplative emotion. Rather than reflecting transient contemporary trends in fashion and styling, I focus on the universal, unadorned presence of everyday women. For me, the architecture of the piece begins with the pose. I typically spend the first three days working with a model simply to discover a posture she completely “owns”—one so natural that it uncovers an unexpected beauty while serving as an authentic expression of her inner character. Finding this specific alignment is essential; without it, the canvas says nothing. Once established, my painting technique is slow and exacting, involving building each canvas through meticulous layering over roughly 200 hours of composition and tonal calibration. If the finalized mood fails to draw the viewer into that space, the canvas is restarted from scratch.
When translating these concepts into three-dimensional space, the physical discipline is equally rigorous, yet the process remains challenging, fun, and exhilarating. My abstract wall sculptures are governed by a strict personal law of fluid dynamics: organic, soft, continuous curves with absolutely no straight lines. The smooth, organic shapes and stretches of canvas offer nearly endless possibilities, and each finished piece reveals new ways to push the concept and dimensions further. I view every 3D work not just as a final object, but as a starting point—a scalable model capable of expanding to fit any interior environment. While I am frequently drawn to the raw power of light and shadow in a purely monochrome canvas, I also thrive on the challenge of merging color and shape. Each piece demands its own unique approach to color, carefully justifying every curve and bend while deliberately embracing vibrant chroma to celebrate life, movement, and spatial energy.
Ultimately, whether through the silent gaze of a painting or the sweeping tension of a 3D piece, my art is an invitation to strip away the daily noise. I aim for the viewer to complete the work by connecting, relating, and seeing a part of themselves reflected within it—celebrating the emotional depth, resilience, and quiet dignity of the universal woman—an everyday icon.
Peter Baagøe Jepsen
