2023
Oil On Canvas
48 x 48 in
 
This captivating oil painting, titled *Dreaming with an Open Heart* by artist Joel Ray, presents a surreal and poignant fusion of organic forms against a stark, abstract backdrop. At the center, a cluster of wilted roses in deep maroon and purple hues emerges from the left, their petals drooping with a sense of faded beauty and melancholy. The stems and leaves, rendered in muted blues and greens, gradually morph into the anatomical structure of a human heart on the right—complete with twisting arteries, veins, and textured chambers in rich reddish-brown tones. This seamless transition symbolizes vulnerability, love's fragility, and emotional openness, inviting viewers to reflect on the interplay between nature's decay and the human spirit.
The composition is set on a dynamic black-and-white geometric pattern background, featuring irregular polygons and shapes that create a sense of fragmented reality, enhancing the dreamlike quality. The artist's signature appears subtly in the lower right corner. Executed in oil on canvas, this piece measures approximately 48 x 48 inches and would make a striking addition to any collection focused on surrealism, symbolism, or contemporary figurative art.
 
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