PAINTING
FREDERICK HADDOX
DETAILS
Acrylic on canvas
80 x 50 cm
2024
DESCRIPTION
This mesmerizing painting portrays a squid in its natural underwater realm, its body rendered in deep purples, mauves, and vivid crimson reds that stand in striking contrast against a swirling teal and turquoise background that perfectly evokes the fluid, flowing world of the deep ocean. The background's sweeping, current-like lines are perhaps the most immersive yet in this artist's body of work, curling and eddying around the creature as though we are watching it from within the water itself, caught in the same currents. The squid's mantle is filled with the artist's signature intricate linework, but here it takes on a more organic, almost biological quality — the swirling patterns within the body suggesting internal organs, muscle, and the mysterious inner workings of a deep-sea creature. The tentacles reach upward with a dramatic, almost balletic elegance, their dark purple forms trailing fine lines of crimson that streak through the composition like threads of ink dissolving in water. This is a deeply immersive and otherworldly piece that beautifully captures the alien grace of cephalopod life, and demonstrates once again that this artist has an extraordinary gift for making the viewer feel wholly transported into the world of their subject.
BIOGRAPHY OF THE ARTIST
Frederick Haddox is an American-born expressionist artist living in Budapest, Hungary. His paintings combine abstract and figurative elements, focusing on emotion rathe
Influenced by German Expressionism and artists like Franz Marc and Vincent van Gogh, Haddox often uses animals and human figures to explore themes of love, identity, and connection. As a Black American artist shaped by different cultures and countries, his work reflects both personal experiences and broader social ideas.
Instead of working in a traditional studio, Haddox often paints in public spaces such as cafés, where the surrounding energy and interaction become part of his creative process. His art invites viewers to see unity instead of division and to reflect on the power of connection.