Fantastic figures

From dream-born bodies to expressive line art capturing the essence of a figure, Beren Neale selects great art by great figure artists working today…

Simply a collection of great art by great figure artists working today: from dream-born bodies, to expressive line art.

Art has been dominated for centuries by figure painting, from cave drawings to ArtStation’s home page. Whether it’s an expressionist take, or a hyperreal depiction that fools the eye, fantastic figures have universal appeal. For the viewer, there’s recognition, identification, a willingness to connect with the human portrayal in front of you. Each artist brings a different energy, a unique palette and personal interests. There are many interpretations of the human figure, but one thing is certain: we’re not getting tired of figure art any time soon. Here we look at six of our favourite artists who’ve made a name for themselves with striking figure art. The anatomically realist art of Boris and Julie, the surreal dream-like paintings of Tran Nguyen, the darker figures of Bastien Lecouffe Deharme, and others. But all are united with positioning the human figure at the heart of their art.