Art Review: Sky by Izabella Hornung
Sky - Acrylic on Paper - Size: 40.6 W x 50.8 H x 0.3 D cm
Izabella Hornung’s Sky offers a captivating exploration of portraiture, blending abstract and figurative styles in a unique artistic composition. Created in 2024, this painting forms part of her ongoing portrait series, with acrylic, pencil, and ink on acid-free paper. The result is a visually striking piece that pulls the viewer into a world of colour, emotion, and interpretative freedom.
At first glance, the figure in Sky is a striking presence, her calm expression almost ethereal as she gazes outward, poised in the centre of the canvas. Yet, the background tells a different story—a swirl of vibrant blues and pinks that seem to hover above her head, creating a tension between the figure’s groundedness and the chaos around her. The Art Deco-inspired geometric patterns in the figure’s attire contrast with the fluidity of the backdrop, offering a contrast of sharp lines and organic forms. This seamless fusion of Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and expressionism is typical of Hornung’s work, which effortlessly blends historical influences with her own unique artistic voice.
Hornung’s mastery lies in her use of colour—rich, vivid hues bring the painting to life, evoking a sense of both reality and dream. The balance between abstraction and figurative detail draws you in, each brushstroke a deliberate move to create something both familiar and otherworldly. The subject’s facial features are carefully rendered, her eyes intense yet distant, a subtle hint of mystery that invites deeper contemplation.
Hornung has always been drawn to the human form, particularly how we relate to one another and to the world around us. In Sky, the figure seems to float between two realms—the personal and the universal—embodying a feeling that is at once intimate and expansive. Her works transcend simple representation, pushing the boundaries of portraiture into a space where emotions and ideas intertwine. The figure in Sky could be anyone or everyone, and yet she is completely singular, a reflection of Hornung’s vision of the human experience.
As a self-taught artist, Hornung has painted since her teenage years, with a lifelong fascination with the human body and its expressions. This exploration continues in her work, where feelings and thoughts take shape as characters, images, and scenes that create a personal universe without limitations. Her art allows the impossible to blend with the everyday, offering new perspectives where colour, shape, and pattern are free to explore.
Sky invites us into this world, one where boundaries are pushed, and emotion takes centre stage. Whether it’s a portrayal of internal conflict, a meditation on identity, or simply an abstract expression of life, Hornung’s painting speaks for itself—its meaning left open for us to decide. What is clear, however, is that Sky represents a powerful visual and emotional landscape, a moment captured in time, and a testament to Hornung’s ability to create art that resonates universally.
Izabella Hornung’s work has been sold worldwide, and with each piece, she continues to build a universe of her own—a universe that invites viewers to explore and interpret as they wish. Sky is just one of many pieces in her expansive body of work, each one offering a new perspective, a new vision, and an opportunity for connection.
The piece is available to buy on Saatchi Art