Lisa Yuskavage is a contemporary American artist renowned for her provocative and psychologically charged paintings that blend classical technique with bold, dreamlike imagery. Her artworks challenge conventional depictions of the female form, often featuring exaggerated, hypersexualized figures rendered in luminous, atmospheric color palettes. Drawing from Old Master traditions, Yuskavage infuses her paintings with a surreal, almost cinematic quality that oscillates between the grotesque and the sublime. Her oeuvre spans both large-scale oil paintings and limited edition prints, demonstrating her technical mastery and deep engagement with the history of figurative art. Lisa Yuskavage’s artwork explores themes of desire, vulnerability, and self-perception, making her a pivotal figure in contemporary painting. Through her evocative compositions, she pushes boundaries between eroticism and empowerment, often eliciting complex emotional responses. Her fine art prints capture the essence of her signature style, allowing a wider audience to experience the raw intensity of her vision. As one of the most influential painters of her generation, Yuskavage continues to redefine the possibilities of figurative art, ensuring her artworks remain both controversial and celebrated in the art world. Yuskavage’s artwork has been featured in solo exhibitions at renowned institutions across the globe, including the Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (2000); Centre d’Art Contemporain, Geneva (2001); Museo Tamayo, Mexico City (2006); the Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis (2016); and the Aspen Art Museum (2020).
Auction record: US$1.4m, Christie's, 2022
