THE HIGHER LENS: 18

It was a genuine pleasure to sit down with Fabian Perez for this conversation. As one of my most admired artists, his work has long resonated with me for its emotional depth, cinematic stillness, and quiet intensity. This dialogue also reflects a subtle evolution in The Higher Lens’ approach to conversations, shifting toward a more reflective, immersive style of engagement that allows ideas, memories, and philosophies to unfold with greater intimacy. I was particularly eager to explore the forces that shape Perez’s practice and the enduring themes that continue to define his unmistakable visual language. Without further ado, I invite you to engage with the conversation that follows, and to step into the emotional world his work so powerfully inhabits.

1. Much of your work explores solitude, desire, and emotional tension. Do you see painting as a way of observing these states from a distance, or as a means of inhabiting them more deeply?

“I definitely use painting as a form of observation. Not only of a person’s physical presence but as a form to portray the soul. To me, it's not only about the look, Art is an expression of your soul through some technique. I believe that you have to enjoy what
you do, if you do it just for money, it's not true art.”

2. Your figures often appear suspended in moments of quiet intensity-smoking, waiting, dancing, or sitting alone. What draws you to these in-between moments rather than overt action or narrative?

“There are various moments of adult life that my figures appear in. Many, of course, influenced by my upbringing in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I grew up around the man smoking or the woman waiting by the bar since I was always around my fathers elegant night clubs and brothels. I draw huge inspiration from him as a recollection of memories. These somber moments with elements of seductive elegance are renditions of a narrative from my past. They also give a modernized perspective to others watching who feel inspired to know who these people are.”

3. Tango recurs as both a visual and emotional language in your work. What does tango allow you to express that other forms of movement or intimacy cannot?

“Tango is a special form of communication between two passionate beings. It's also a central component to Argentinian culture which I am extremely proud to represent. However, Tango holds a unique romanticism that can’t be depicted through other visuals like a kiss or a hug. I see it in the way the dancers move. The dramatics of their steps, always, in a sensual and respectful
way.”

4. There is a strong sense of masculinity in your paintings, yet it is rarely dominant or aggressive. How consciously do you engage with masculinity as a theme, and how do you resist its stereotypes?

“A lot of the masculinity depicted in my artwork is derived from the inspiration of my father. He was the cool guy outside of his nightclubs. Furthermore, the women around these clubs were always elegantly dressed while also being respected by the men. I think there’s more value to show emotional strength in a man through his posture and how he carries himself confidently rather than the stereotypes of aggressiveness or ego.”

5. Your palette is restrained-dark, smoky, intimate-yet highly expressive. How do colour and shadow function emotionally for you, beyond their formal qualities?

“The dark, smoky, elements of tone, shadow, and color I capture in my artwork serve to enhance the moodiness of the artwork. They help bring the cinematic storytelling to these snapshots of a bedroom, a bar, a club, or a dance. The use of my traditional palette has allowed me to find my style which is more leaning on dramatic narratives characterized by heavily contrasted light and shadow.”
6. Many of your characters feel anonymous, yet deeply personal. Are they imagined figures, composites, or reflections of lived experience?

“The figures in my artwork are symbolic to the memories of my past. Mostly known for the subjects in the characters of the night collection, these beautiful women,tango dancers, and flamenco dancers are all pieces of my identity through my culture, childhood, and journey into the artist I am today.”

7. You’ve often spoken about emotion being more important than realism. At what point does accuracy become less important than truth in your work?

“I think that accuracy is more so a measure of how much skill an artist has developed over the years. In my belief, the importance truly comes from creating with deep emotion. It is critical for me to become one with the subject as I paint or sculpt.”

8. Silence plays a powerful role in your paintings. Do you think silence can communicate more than explicit expression, and is that something you deliberately cultivate on the canvas?

“Silence can be a key to peace. In my artistic practice, I am often silent and sit in the stillness of my brush on the canvas. It is usually difficult to communicate my feelings and points of views in other mediums like writing or music. In the silence, as visually seen in the subjects of my artwork, I can create moments of reflection where not only do my paintings sit still in a vignette of life but also allow me to live in my own way, in my own time and space.”

9. As an artist whose work is instantly recognisable, how do you continue to evolve without losing the emotional core that defines your style?

“I am always evolving in my artwork. I often incorporate new color palettes and recently created a Tears of Van Gogh piece that draws direct inspiration from Van Gogh’s artistry. I try not to limit or box myself entirely. Simply, I contemplate it, while I interpret, I submerge myself into its essence of the art I create.”

10. How has your relationship with your own work changed over time? Do earlier paintings still speak to you in the same way, or do you see them as documents of a past self?

“As I have grown into my artistic career, I have learned to slow down the process of my creations and remember to live. Through enjoying the creation of the photography process, studying the models for my paintings, and the actual painting process of the artwork has always become a direct source of joy to me. Now I see my most recent artworks as a reflection of the current state of my life.”

11. In a contemporary art world often driven by speed, trends, and visibility, how do you protect depth, slowness, and emotional integrity in your practice?

“As trends come and go, skills and the pursuit of an artists’ unique style is what remains integral to continuous growth. In my practice, I create art every day, building it into my routine. This act of building my life around my art allows me to slow down and truly focus on the ability to feel real freedom. Which I believe Comes with the ability of living your life in harmony with the present moment”

12. Finally, what do you hope a viewer feels-or perhaps confronts-when standing in front of one of your paintings for a long time?

“I hope viewers of my artwork are able to consider their own identity through the subjects of my paintings. Through Neo-Emotionalism, I want them to not only recognize the skills and mastery it has taken me over the years to develop my artistic skills but also for them to feel liberated in their hearts. Whether it's a painting from my Wine and Spirits Collection, where a viewer remembers a time they celebrated with their families over the holidays, or a more somber reflective memory like I felt when creating Untitled II. I hope everyone finds a piece of themselves in what I create.”

In Conversation with Fabian Perez | Vlera Gara