ESTER CURINI

About Ester Curini

Known for creating photorealistic animal portraits set against stark white backgrounds, self-taught Italian painter Ester Curini has explained that isolating the endangered species on a blank canvas allows her to concentrate on a subject’s essential characteristics, and, at the same time, on what is essential to her as an artist.

Curini grew up in an unfiltered environment, where reality was not manipulated by adults so as not to hurt the sensitivity of children. She soon witnessed the cruelty of humans towards animals, a gruesome reality she had to face and deal with, by herself. Her greatest passions in childhood were animals and drawing.

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Curini’s subjects appear anthropomorphic with their human poses and matter-of-fact gazes, often turned directly back at the viewer.

Wolves are amazingly complex and social creatures of the wild, and Curini captures each animal’s individuality and character with amazing intimacy and vision. The viewer is forced to confront the animals directly, considering their physiognomy, unique colors, and elegant gestures.

“My aim is to raise awareness about their importance in our ecosystem,” Curini says. “They have been hunted, trapped, and poisoned. Specifically, the Mexican Gray and the Red wolves. They are the most endangered species in North America.”

Curini had never seen a real life wolf until she visited the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, New York in 2012. “Seeing wolves up close and listening to their howls has been a life-changing experience for me.” She continues to visit the misunderstood and persecuted subjects of her portraits regularly to become acquainted with them.

“It is up to us to find a way to coexist with these magnificent animals. We need to preserve and protect them in a compassionate way.” In the painting “I Was Wild. They Named Me OR-4” Curini paints a vague human figure in the eye for this reason. She envisioned a scene: a 10-year old OR-4, his limping mate, and their two pups, running for their lives.

The center of her work is capturing the unique energy, essence and the spirit of each creature she paints in order to connect the urban population with nature.

Selected Awards

2012
Wildlife Competition, International Artist Magazine, Finalist.
2011
ArtSlant.com, 5th Showcase Winner
2007
79th Grand National Exhibition of the American Artists Professional League, New York, Honorable Mention.
The Artist's Magazine 24th Annual Art Competition: Finalist.
2005
National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic. Elsie Ject-Key Award, Salmagundi Club, New York.
The American Artist Professional League. The Salmagundi Club Award. Salmagundi Club, New York

Press

2018
“Interview and Cover, Hyperrealism Magazine # 3
2017
Cutler, Jody B. "Zootropia: Recent Shows," Art Live from New York, March 12.
Webster, Andrew. "Little Red Riding Hood Was a Liar, " Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, March 2.
Ochman, B.L. “Endangered Series Inspired By and Devoted to Wolves”, What's Next Blog.
Gone But Not Forgotten - OR4 in NYC”, Oregon Wild, Feb 16.
Inner Spirit”, American Art Collector, 64-65.
2015
Dillon, Stephen. “Editorial: The New Photorealist,” Artsy.net, June 1.
2014
Press, Marina. Exhibition Catalogue, Bernarducci Meisel Gallery: New York.
Press, Marina. Poets and Artist’s Magazine: Love Issue, March.
2013
Akthar, Dee. “Wild Thing”, Wall Street International, September.
“Editorial: 10 Masters of Photorealism”, Artsy.net, September 16.
"10 Masters of Photorealism", Editorial by ARTSY.net
2012
"Poets and Artists Magazine, December.
Villareal, Ignacio. “Bernarducci Meisel Gallery”, ArtDaily. org, March 1.
Ochman, B.L. “Photorealist Painter Ester Curini Show, Bernarducci Meisel Gallery”, PawFun.com, Feb. 3.
Press, Marina. Eye to Eye. Bernarducci Meisel Gallery Exhibition Catalog.
Jane Doe”, International Artist Magazine, January.
2008
Artists Magazine, March 2008, “Artist of the month.
Millionaire Magazine, Feb. 2008, “E’ gattomania”.
2007
The Artists Magazine, Dec. 2007, “The Year’s Best Art”.
2006
Ti presento il gatto, Oct. 2006, “Donne, gatti e fantasia”. Creare con Casaviva, Jan. 2006, “Un fantastico siamese grigio e miele”.
2004
Creare con Casaviva, May 2004, “Gatti di sasso che sembrano veri”.
2003
Gatto Magazine, Nov. 2003, “Passione gatto”.