Arts

Artstagram: Genieve Figgis' eerie canvases are wowing the art world

The paintings of Genieve Figgis are sometimes funny and sometimes creepy, but they’re always pretty.

There's something slightly off about the Irish painter's work, but the critics love it

Name: Genieve Figgis

Handle: @genievefiggis

The blobby, colourful paintings of Genieve Figgis are sometimes funny and sometimes creepy, but they're always pretty. The Irish artist's motifs are reminiscent of Goya, while her style recalls the school of "bad painting," which really just means that she's not tied down by traditional conventions. The New York Times called her work "nastily entertaining," and we agree — which is why following her highly active Instagram account is not a bad idea (though some of her images are NSFW).

In one image, a puddle of peach forms a ghoulish infant that could fit in with the Garbage Pail Kids:

While a cerulean dinner scene is about as eerie as something from a Game of Thrones wedding:

This family photo is seriously awkward:

And this portrait is nightmare-inducing:

Having exhibited in London, Dublin, New York, Toronto and elsewhere, and counting fellow artists like Richard Prince among her fans, Figgis is an artist to watch.

Social media can be so much more than selfies and viral videos — it's increasingly becoming a scratch pad for emerging artists and other creative minds to show off their latest work. Artstagram curates the best visual talent on Instagram, helping bring a little more art into your daily feed.​