Golden Rings Circle Ethereal Portraits of Goddess-Like Women

Ethereal Portrait Paintings by Marissa Napoletano

Denver-based artist Marissa Napoletano adds a sparkly touch to her paintings of women. After rendering realistic portraits in delicate colors, she frames subjects with rings of gold, giving her artwork an ethereal appearance that looks like it's from a dream.

Napoletano's practice includes both oil paintings as well as large-scale murals. Originally trained at Hartford Art School and then in Italy, she was inspired to try her hand at street art after relocating to Denver and being immersed in the vibrant art scene of the city. While female subjects are usually the focus of her paintings, Napoletano often merges figures with flora and fauna. These natural motifs are used to cover parts of people's faces and bodies.

As a result of her unique style, Napoletano's paintings possess a delicate, feminine appearance. “I'm constantly inspired by humans and nature, and often their relationship,” Napoletano tells My Modern Met. “My work usually depicts these subjects as a way to explore various experiences I've had that fall into themes such as growth or strength. My work attempts to marry my background in realism with a more fantastical and dreamy approach.”

You can purchase original paintings and prints via Napoletano's online shop. Scroll down to see more paintings, and follow the artist on Instagram to keep up to date with her latest projects.