LEVI JUSTICE

Levi Justice is a contemporary visual artist specializing in large scale, hyper-realistic oil paintings. At age 12, he began working with wood & various metals creating sculptures he sold to private collectors. Justice pursued fine art at Kentuckys prestigious, Centre College. After graduating, Levi moved to North Carolina where he began managing art galleries & teaching artistic techniques to his community. Levi currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky.

With his work, Levi Justice offers his viewer a unique glimpse into humanity. His work is best described as narrative contemporary realism. While his subject matter is primarily figurative, he does not paint “portraits” in the tradition academic method. Justice obscures the figures to an extent that they are no longer understood as identifiable individuals, but rather as characters within a broader narrative. He allows his viewers to create their own narrative and derive personal meaning out of the work. 

Justice has a strong passion for abstract expressionism. This is showcased through his l “veiled” Series, he creates representations of his subjects submerged in draped layers of transparent plastic. As a lifelong student of art, his work showcases his technical mastery of color theory and draftsmanship. Justice’s technical painting process is reminiscent of the old masters. Like them, he is fascinated by light, especially the way in which light reflects and passes through different materials. In his words he says

“I am attempting to capture the energy and gentle movement of flowing water. I experiment with new ways to capture light and reflection by carefully created the illusion of transparency through a series of translucent color glazes. Doing this allows light to pass through the paint just as it would through water. As the viewer navigates the piece, the light source changes, and with it, new colors emerge from within. I focus most of the intense detail around the model’s face, and as I approach the edges of the canvas my brush strokes get looser and more energetic. This juxtaposition helps to create a feeling of the passage of time or a snapshot into a fleeting moment.”

Visually,he wants it to feel as if the model is just below a water’s surface. Their body position is poised and determined, radiating a humble strength while in a new and unfamiliar environment.

For all art, business, & creative inquiries and studio visits, please visit the CONTACT page.