Justin DeMattico

Acceptance is a feeling all humans desire, the want to feel loved and a sense of belonging. Many disciplines and generations of people have explored and fought for just this, accepting those different than yourself, those with different views, and understanding that everyone has a unique perspective.
I am interested in what informs individuals, how a person learns to pass judgment, and what leads people to accept things different from our idea of “normal.”

I focus on human nature through portraiture and the use of symbols. Inner darkness creates tension with a search for sympathy and community.
I create worlds where negative norms from exclusionary constructs don’t apply. My painted worlds have the openness of dreams, feeling familiar but detached from negative realities.

In this world, everyone is accepted and that is portrayed through the symbolism within each piece. These works are an escape for me and for anyone who views them.

People are accepted as they come.