Oleksandr Balbyshev: Bold Paintings Exploring Male Sexuality
Starting with the Stonewall riots in 1969, Pride Month is prevalent for LGBTQ+ civil rights and justice. While we acknowledge and support LGBTQ+ rights no matter what time of year, we wanted to celebrate Pride Month by spotlighting a different LGBTQ+ artist each Thursday during June. We hope you discover a new favorite creator!
iCanvas is thrilled to offer prints by Oleksandr Balbyshev, whose vibrant paintings focus on the nude male body, abstract designs, and expressive portraits. Featuring themes of eroticism, splashes of patterns, and representations of strength through vulnerability, his collection is full of eye-catching arrays. We love how his art provides an intriguing mix of boldness and sensuality with a profound layer of sophistication.
Using male sexuality in his art to express himself and dive into self-reflection, he claims many of his paintings reflect a darker side of his thoughts. Living in Ukraine as a gay man, he’s faced societal rejection and discrimination, as have most of the LGBTQ+ community there. Explaining this experience has influenced his personality and art, he says, “I still feel a deep-seated guilty feeling that I am not like anyone else. Perhaps this shame can be seen in my paintings.”
While a lot of his pieces are derived from his own life, they’re often also meant to help viewers connect to their own feelings. His ultimate goal is for others to ponder about the “realm of ideas in faces and bodies”. With a combination of realistic people and unusual elements, he provides unexpected interpretations of human emotions. This powerful, thought-provoking imagery can be seen in many of his featured prints.
From flourishing flower faces to pink booty designs to displays of censorship, each print showcases provocative energy and underlying meanings. Whether it’s a chiseled beach bod, a mysterious green man, or a brain melting blue, his attention-grabbing art is filled with vivid colors and dramatic poses. Making his artwork a unique way to create a striking atmosphere with risque and curious vibes.
Keep scrolling to see more of his interesting work, and click here to see more NSFW art and all art by Oleksandr Balbyshev on iCanvas.
