New York City-based illustrator Amber Vittoria says that her large-scale paintings, featuring rainbows—colorful, whimsical works—are meant to explore, in nontraditional ways, ideas of femininity and the female form. They aim to dismantle, she says, “societal stereotypes set upon women.” Her process is so impulsive and organic that she begins each piece the moment inspiration strikes and often leaves mistakes in the final work.
In Vittoria’s most recent paintings, rainbows wind across the canvas as hands and feet peek out from the base of the arches, suggesting a human form in the chromatic prism. “The colors speak to combating the societal gender stereotypes that are negatively impacting women in regards to employment during this pandemic,” Vittoria says, “and how the resilience and strength of women needs to be supported and championed.” She also hopes that viewers will see themselves in works such as Collectively Alone and From My Workday Sofa Spot to My Evening Sofa Spot. “The inspiration for [these works] directly comes from quarantining,” she explains, “and aiming to find connection even though we are physically distanced.”
