Renowned for pushing the boundaries of portraiture and challenging the very essence of art itself, one of the world’s most in-demand portrait artists, JONATHAN YEO, is a vibrant luminary in the contemporary art scene, says Ramsha Vistro ▸
JONATHAN YEO DIRECTS mesmerising cinematic stories of colour and form that transcend the traditional confines of portraiture. His work – an alluring amalgamation of realism and abstraction – plunges deep into the psyche of his subjects, unveiling their complexities, layer by layer. As a maestro of the canvas, Jonathan’s artistry brings forth a kaleidoscope of emotions and narratives that captivate the viewer, leaving an indelible mark in the tapestry of modern art, where portraiture becomes a journey of revelation.
Still, his venture into the art world wasn’t a straight path. Jonathan reminisces about the factors that facilitated his creativity growing up. “In retrospect, something which helped me concentrate when drawing, was – what I now know as – ADHD.”
According to the National Library of Medicine, hyperfocus – a lesser known yet common symptom of ADHD – can be a valuable asset, especially for artists, as it can help them focus intensely on things they are interested in. “I found it easier at school to concentrate when I was drawing and doing something with my hands, but particularly drawing,” he shares. At the time, Jonathan couldn’t have foreseen how these early experiences would set the stage for a prolific career as an artist.
Was there a pivotal moment that ignited his passion for art? “I don’t know, really,” he muses. “My grandmother was a big art fan. She wasn’t practising herself, but she was always giving me art books.” It was such gestures that lit the artistic spark within him.
Jonathan didn’t go on to study art at university as “in the early ‘90s, no one was really bothered about painting, especially figurative painting,” he notes. “There weren’t many courses available.” So, Jonathan took a detour into the world of film studies, a field he thought might lead to a more practical career. However, it was during this time that he began to see the subtle ways in which his artistic sensibilities were shaping his perspective. “Film is a very visual medium,” he points out. “It gave me a lot of exposure to the history and culture of cinema.”
This spotlight on visual storytelling, lighting and composition greatly influenced his later wor
