Predator and Prey

Chie Yoshii's oil paintings explore timeless psychological themes with a contrasting mix of techniques and styles.

On the one hand, the brushstrokes and the luminosity of her panels are reminiscent of traditional Flemish paintings, in which the details, the quality of shading, and the softness of each character’s complexion are presented in a masterly manner. On the other hand, the subtle symbolism and compelling presence of the figures bring an unexpected air of accessible modernity.

Much of her work is inspired by the relationship between human psychology and mythical archetypes. The enduring themes are woven into surrealities filled with symbols and visual narratives. The enigmatic images embody contradicting elements such as novelty and nostalgia, innocence and sensuality, and strength and fragility, mirroring the complexity of our psyche.

Chie Yoshii was born in year 1974 in Kochi, Japan. She moved to the US to complete her BFA at Massachusetts College of Art in 2000 and studied with a realist painter Adrian Gottlieb from 2002 to 2008. Her paintings have been exhibited in galleries worldwide, including Dorothy Circus Gallery in Italy, Urban Nation in Germany, Roq La Rue Gallery in Seattle, Thinkspace in Los Angeles, and William Baczek Fine Arts in Northampton, MA. She currently lives and works in Los Angeles.