Trevin Prince

That old expression about putting oneself into the work holds true for every great artist, but none take this as literally as Trevin Prince, who paints symbolist portraits and figures in his own blood. Far from resulting in the monochrome red palette one might expect, the Utah-based painter has perfected a complex process involving resin on Plexiglas that creates a broad range of tones from near-black browns to warm oranges and pale yellows. His unique choice of media isn’t restrictive; instead, it creates unprecedented opportunities.

Prince employs this potentially violent medium to incredibly delicate ends — he activates blood’s humanist resonances, rather than its horror film associations. His paintings combine realist renderings of human subjects with allegorical animals or surreal imagery. Often executed against clean white backdrops, the images have an arresting visual power. Sealed by the resin, Prince applies his blood in layers, creating sharp gradients in tone and a stained glass-like luminosity as light moves through the work. This unconventional material breathes palpable life into each striking composition.