Carmen Kass
Acrylic on canvas
36" x 48"
2012
Private collection
Acrylic on canvas
36" x 48"
2012
Private collection
This painting is part of the long-running "Model Citizens" series, in which Collins paints portraits of models and supermodels. Here, Collins depicted Estonian supermodel, actress and Estonian Chess Federation President, Carmen Kass in a shoot for Vogue Spain. Yet Collins has reimagined Kass in his signature restrained palette and high contrast style.
Collins was impressed by Kass' ferocity and has emphasized it here in bold. At nearly life size, Collins' painting mirrors Kass' own imposing, teeth-bearing presence.
As one of Collins' early entries into the series, this painting retains a softer, more gestural aesthetic than Collins' recent, technical paintings. However, in "Carmen Kass" one may find the beginnings of that interest in increasingly detailed and intentional compositions.
