"In my work as a contemporary abstract expressionist painter, I draw inspiration from post-apocalyptic films such as The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits. As an only child, my unique perspective is shaped by a solitary upbringing, fueling an unconventional painting style that allows me to perceive the world in an extraordinarily different manner."
Chicago-born and raised, Fontaine Scarelli is an abstract expressionist painter whose work electrifies the art world with a blend of raw emotion and philosophical depth. A former fashion design student, Scarelli made an unconventional leap into painting, bringing with him a sense of defiant creativity and a visual language that’s entirely his own.
Scarelli’s canvases, often large-scale and immersive, pull viewers into a narrative space where time, memory, and perception collide. Drawing on influences from post-apocalyptic films, The Twilight Zone, and a solitary upbringing, his work speaks to existential themes of life, death, and the dissonance between reality and illusion. Each piece channels his fascination with the strange and the sublime, blending rebellion and introspection in a way that defies traditional boundaries.
This past year has seen Scarelli’s career take off, with solo exhibitions, representation by Virgil Catherine Gallery, Loisir Art Gallery, and Gallery 1871, and a debut at Art Basel Miami Beach through Luminaire. His piece Drifting Shards 2 was featured in L’Officiel St. Barth as part of their “Best of Art Basel 2024” coverage. In addition, his large-scale painting The Idea of Time, 2024 was acquired by global design firm Perkins&Will and is now on display in their newly remodeled Chicago studio.
His work, once featured at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chicago, is currently on view at Luminaire’s Hollywood Design District showroom. He was recently interviewed and featured in Visual Art Journal, further cementing his rising influence within the world of contemporary abstraction.
For Scarelli, every brushstroke is a form of self-discovery, a narrative of both solitude and universal experience that resonates deeply with those who seek something beyond the ordinary. Whether working with private collectors or bringing new audiences into his expansive, layered visions, Scarelli’s art doesn’t just invite you to look, it challenges you to question what you think you know about reality.