Hyperrealistic Purple Man Portrait on Wood - 'Currency #253'

Currency #253 is a striking piece from Natasha Lelenco’s Currencies series, featuring a hyperrealistic male profile painted in acrylic on a circular wooden panel. The subject’s naturalistic rendering contrasts with the bold purple background, creating a visually arresting composition. The inscription in Spanish, “¿Mi hogar? Aquí. Pero falta algo.”, translates to “My home? Here. But something is missing.”

This powerful statement encapsulates the emotional complexity of migration and identity, illustrating the sense of belonging that remains incomplete. The phrase, painted in a warm yellow hue, forms a stark contrast against the deep purple, reinforcing the artwork’s conceptual tension.

As part of Lelenco’s Currencies series, this piece challenges the conventional symbolism of coins, replacing national figures with anonymous faces and deeply personal narratives. Through this approach, Lelenco invites the viewer to reflect on the fluid nature of home, displacement, and the ever-shifting perception of value.

Technical Details:

Series: Currencies
Medium: Acrylic and mixed media on treated pine wood
Dimensions: 26 cm diameter, 2 cm thickness (10.24 x 0.79 inches)
Inscription: Spanish text with English translation
Condition: New, direct from the artist’s studio
Presentation: Ready to hang
About the Series:
The Currencies series reinterprets traditional coinage, replacing authoritative figures with anonymous portraits and poignant phrases that capture universal human experiences. These works engage with themes of migration, cultural hybridity, and the arbitrary assignment of value, offering collectors a thought-provoking and versatile addition to their collection.