Anastasia

Oil on Canvas. Unframed 10"x12" / 24cm x 32cm

Anastasia, an oil portrait by Cuban artist Maikel Benítez, radiates an arresting blend of mystery, strength, and unforgettable presence. Rendered in assertive, mosaic-like strokes, the painting feels both tactile and deeply emotional, as though each fragment of color carries its own pulse. The subject’s unwavering gaze—cool, lucid, and intimately direct—anchors the viewer, while the vibrant red flower emerging from the shadows becomes a kind of visual flytrap, catching you off guard and hinting at intentions left deliberately opaque. Benítez seamlessly weaves abstraction and realism into a single breath, creating a surface alive with tension: poised yet vulnerable, distant yet disarmingly present.