60 in. (152.4 cm) x 48 in. (122 cm) x 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
Anthony Pontrello (Italo-American, b. 1950)
Invoking Thalassa
48 x 60 x 1.5 in. (122 x 152.4 x 3.8 cm)
mixed media on canvas
signed. initials, bottom center, AP
again, In verso, A. Pontrello 2025
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Thalassa is a primordial sea goddess in Greek mythology, whose name literally means "sea" in Greek. She personifies the Mediterranean Sea and represents the elemental, ancient spirit of the ocean itself. Unlike more anthropomorphized deities like Poseidon, Thalassa is often portrayed as a more abstract and primordial force—a divine embodiment of the sea rather than a ruler over it.
“This painting is an exploration of memory, emotion, and the fluid boundaries between my conscious and subconscious. Using layered textures, bold gestural marks, and a palette dominated by oceanic blues and teals, I aimed to evoke a sense of depth - both spatial and psychological. The spontaneous orange accents serve as disruptions or sparks of clarity amid the chaos, representing moments of revelation or emotional intensity. My process was intuitive and physical, allowing this work to evolve organically as I responded to each mark. This piece reflects the complexity of an inner landscape - where beauty, tension, and ambiguity coexist for me.” ~AP
Invoking Thalassa is a tempest of emotion and movement—a vivid dance between chaos and cohesion. Swaths of turquoise and teal surge like ocean currents, their fluidity interrupted by deep cobalt strokes that echo the silhouettes of figures or perhaps memories half-forgotten. The layering suggests depth, as if we are peering through the surface of water or time, with elements surfacing and submerging unpredictably.
Burnt orange splashes slash through the composition like electric sparks, infusing the canvas with urgency and vitality. These jagged veins of color seem almost accidental, yet they guide the eye with intentional ferocity, as if mapping out a hidden language or emotional nerve. Smudges of white and gray ghost across the upper corners, suggesting clouds, smoke, or the dissolution of form into feeling.
This is a work that hums with kinetic energy—a meeting ground for instinct and introspection. The indistinct human forms entwined in the layers speak to connection, conflict, or communion. It is both storm and sanctuary, inviting the viewer to lose themselves in its depths and discover what surfaces within.
Anthony Pontrello (Italo-American, b. 1950)
Invoking Thalassa
48 x 60 x 1.5 in. (122 x 152.4 x 3.8 cm)
mixed media on canvas
signed. initials, bottom center, AP
again, In verso, A. Pontrello 2025
INQUIRE
Thalassa is a primordial sea goddess in Greek mythology, whose name literally means "sea" in Greek. She personifies the Mediterranean Sea and represents the elemental, ancient spirit of the ocean itself. Unlike more anthropomorphized deities like Poseidon, Thalassa is often portrayed as a more abstract and primordial force—a divine embodiment of the sea rather than a ruler over it.
“This painting is an exploration of memory, emotion, and the fluid boundaries between my conscious and subconscious. Using layered textures, bold gestural marks, and a palette dominated by oceanic blues and teals, I aimed to evoke a sense of depth - both spatial and psychological. The spontaneous orange accents serve as disruptions or sparks of clarity amid the chaos, representing moments of revelation or emotional intensity. My process was intuitive and physical, allowing this work to evolve organically as I responded to each mark. This piece reflects the complexity of an inner landscape - where beauty, tension, and ambiguity coexist for me.” ~AP
Invoking Thalassa is a tempest of emotion and movement—a vivid dance between chaos and cohesion. Swaths of turquoise and teal surge like ocean currents, their fluidity interrupted by deep cobalt strokes that echo the silhouettes of figures or perhaps memories half-forgotten. The layering suggests depth, as if we are peering through the surface of water or time, with elements surfacing and submerging unpredictably.
Burnt orange splashes slash through the composition like electric sparks, infusing the canvas with urgency and vitality. These jagged veins of color seem almost accidental, yet they guide the eye with intentional ferocity, as if mapping out a hidden language or emotional nerve. Smudges of white and gray ghost across the upper corners, suggesting clouds, smoke, or the dissolution of form into feeling.
This is a work that hums with kinetic energy—a meeting ground for instinct and introspection. The indistinct human forms entwined in the layers speak to connection, conflict, or communion. It is both storm and sanctuary, inviting the viewer to lose themselves in its depths and discover what surfaces within.