Artist Profile: Emma Casale
Overview
Emma Casale’s The Gift is a meditation on the quiet unraveling of identity. The fractured, partially obscured face at the heart of the painting reflects the moment when one’s sense of self begins to shift—whether through time, relationships, or personal loss. Casale’s layered, peeling textures mimic the process of shedding and revealing, as if parts of the subject are being stripped away to expose something raw and unguarded beneath the surface.
The muted tones, soft forms, and ghostly overlays create an atmosphere of tension and reflection. The outstretched hand, suspended between grasping and offering, underscores the ambiguity of this transformation. Is it a moment of surrender or of reclaiming what was lost? Through this ambiguity, The Gift leaves room for viewers to confront their own moments of change and introspection.
Featured Artwork Vault Bushwick Gallery
Artwork Title: The Gift
Year of Creation: 2023
Medium: Acrylic and Oil Stick on Canvas
Dimensions: 42 in x 33 in
Current Location: New York City, NY, USA