ARTIST STATEMENT

Simone Coccia

Contemporary Oil Painter
—————————————————————

Painting Stillness in a Moving World​​

My work explores the quiet tension between movement and stillness. I paint moments suspended in time — where action pauses and something interior begins to surface. Through oil on canvas, I search for emotional space rather than narrative clarity.

​

Water and Reflection

Water appears frequently in my paintings as both surface and symbol. Its rhythm creates a visual meditation. The repetition of waves softens perception and opens psychological depth. The landscape becomes less a location and more an emotional field.

​

The Horse as Threshold

The recurring presence of the horse in my recent work represents strength held in restraint — power tempered by vulnerability. The horse stands at the edge: of water, of landscape, of silence. In that edge, I find a mirror for human experience. We are most present in moments of hesitation — in the pause before movement.

​​​

Material Presence

My brushwork remains visible and tactile. I am interested in the physicality of oil paint — its resistance, weight and capacity to hold light. Texture is not decorative; it carries tension and atmosphere. The material presence of paint reinforces the emotional presence of the subject.

​

Space for the Viewer

Though rooted in figurative imagery, my work moves toward reduction. I aim to remove distraction and isolate the essential: gesture, posture, horizon, silence. What remains is space — space for the viewer to enter.

​

In Conclusion,

Painting, for me, is an act of slowing down. In a world defined by speed and distraction, I seek inner peace. And I hope that in standing before the work, the viewer feels invited to do the same.

​

 Simone Coccia