Alessia Pugliese - Quello che non vedi

What You Don’t See

Acrylic on canvas, 2020*

Description:

“What You Don’t See” is an intense and magnetic portrait that explores the subtle boundary between what we show and what we choose to guard.

The female face emerges elegantly from a pale, airy background, while a large red flower, vibrant and textured, partially covers the gaze. It is not an act of hiding, but of awareness: a symbol of quiet strength, protected vulnerability, and deep identity. The exposed, direct, and gleaming eye establishes an immediate contact with the observer, creating a subtle yet powerful emotional tension.

The crimson and deep red tones dialogue with the delicacy of the complexion, generating a sophisticated and contemporary contrast. The flower’s textures add dimensionality and presence, making the work alive and capable of transforming the space where it is placed.

This work is not only a portrait: it is a visual statement about perception, mystery, and the part of us that remains invisible to others.

Technique: acrylic on canvas
Year: 2020
Final protective varnish applied to preserve brightness and chromatic depth over time
Painted edges, ready to hang without a frame
Unique work, signed

An artwork capable of becoming the focal point of a contemporary environment, drawing the eye and sparking conversations. Perfect for those seeking a distinctive, elegant piece with strong emotional presence.

Biography

Alessia Pugliese (Naples, 1986) is an Italian artist whose research merges Neapolitan artisanal tradition with a strongly identity-focused contemporary painting language.

Trained at the historic “Istituto Caselli – Real Fabbrica di Capodimonte,” she developed from the outset a deep respect for material, for the precision of detail, and for the technical construction of the image. This rigorous training is still reflected today in the care of surfaces and the execution quality of her works.

After a significant path as a portraitist, in which she refined the ability to investigate expressiveness and the psychological dimension of the human face, since 2019 she has oriented her research toward a more symbolic and narrative painting.

Her production focuses mainly on the female figure, exploring themes such as identity, vulnerability, perception, and inner strength. Iconic, floral, or cultural elements intertwine with portraits, creating suspended compositions between introspection and visual impact.

Through a calibrated use of color – often dominated by intense reds and delicate contrasts – the artist builds emotionally magnetic works capable of establishing a direct dialogue with the observer.

Her works are situated within contemporary figuration with pop and symbolic influences, distinguished by narrative intensity and dramatic presence.