Cuban-born artist Alexi Torres doesn’t  just create ordinary oil on canvas paintings, instead he paints images of influential icons from the past and present and makes it look as if the paint is woven onto the canvas. His work represents icons who have made a change in our world whether on an political, social, economical, artistic or spiritual level: From Charles Darwin to Oprah Winfrey. In each painting he integrates feathers, leaves and other elements of nature .

In an statement on his website he says:

My works are an answer to my own appreciation of Earth’s needs. I reconstruct iconic images that represent both classic and modern times from all branches of human development, including the arts, politics, science, education and military. I create this by changing the context of the initial forms into ecological, fragile, ephemeral and natural elements; leaves, weaving, feathers and other elements formed in nature. With each element carefully constructed, I create a new image.

These basic, earthly elements are readily available. They are sincere, yet complex in their simplicity. The intricate patterns and details in the paintings show the fulfillment that we find in basic organic elements; on how we are all interconnected with each other, in a spiritual and physical level. The past influences the present and the present influences the future. We need each other to evolve with the universe. I want to fill the connection of nature in my works.

Check out some of his work!

Oprah Winfrey

Martin Luther King Jr.

Pablo Picasso

Charles Darwin

Marilyn Monroe

Photo courtsey of Alexi Torres