Foxy Lady

Foxy Lady is an oil painting on canvas (24x36) by Josh Van Engen, part of a figurative collection that explores the dynamic interplay between past and present—bridging art history with modern cultural symbolism. Through this work, I examine the fluid spectrum of gender and sexuality, seeking to illuminate the inherent beauty within my subjects and compositions. This piece integrates three key elements: one from art history, one from a fashion editorial, and a found object. At the top, two figures reference a painting by Spanish master Diego Velázquez, gazing downward at a trio below. The two figures on the left appear as androgynous mirror images, while the female figure on the right embodies the iconic essence of a 1990s supermodel. Suspended above them all is a rope and key—an intimate symbol from a long-term lover and someone deeply significant to me at the time. In Foxy Lady, I seek to capture the timeless beauty that emerges when the past and present converge.