Featured image: Nothing Better Articulated Than a Singular Moan, Nicolas Derro, 2024, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 in. / 91.44 x 121.92 cm.
Nicolas Derro’s oil paintings invite viewers into surreal, emotionally charged worlds where whimsy and introspection coexist.
Nicolas Derro is a surrealist painter known for vibrant, detailed works exploring identity, absurdity, and emotional depth through layered symbolism and bold compositions.
With intricate details, bold colors, and layered compositions, Derro explores themes of identity, apathy, and human absurdity. Each piece offers a unique narrative while contributing to a broader exploration of the human condition.
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Self-Applied Edicts of Apathy and Fed by a Cynic, Nicolas Derro, 2024, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 in. / 91.44 x 121.92 cm.
In Self-Applied Edicts of Apathy and Fed by a Cynic (2024), Derro presents a character in a bizarre yet melancholic state, donning a moth-like costume with exaggerated features. The intricate details of the wings and fur-lined headpiece create a surreal juxtaposition against the serene background of a pastoral painting. The floral wallpaper framing the figure emphasizes an air of domestic normalcy distorted by absurdity. This work reflects themes of personal detachment and societal alienation, challenging viewers to confront their own apathy amidst a chaotic yet familiar world.
Have You Ever Woken to an Overwhelming Feeling of Sick Joy, Nicolas Derro, 2025, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 in. / 91.44 x 121.92 cm.
Derro’s Have You Ever Woken to an Overwhelming Feeling of Sick Joy (2025) portrays a towering, segmented portrait of three stoic faces, each enclosed within geometric shapes and vivid patterns. The layered composition conveys a sense of emotional fragmentation, as if the figures represent different aspects of a single psyche. The bold use of contrasting colors and intricate patterns evokes a sense of both whimsy and unease. This painting explores the tension between joy and discomfort, presenting a surreal commentary on the complexities of human emotion.
A Collection of Small Odds & Ends Hoarding Space on My Body, Nicolas Derro, 2024, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 in. / 91.44 x 121.92 cm.
In A Collection of Small Odds & Ends Hoarding Space on My Body (2024), Derro introduces a whimsical yet unsettling figure adorned in a polka-dotted coat alongside an anthropomorphic bird. The absurdity of the scene is heightened by the figure’s exaggerated expression and the bird’s piercing gaze. The richly textured background, featuring ornate wallpaper, contrasts with the chaotic interplay of colors and patterns in the foreground. This work invites viewers to ponder themes of identity, hoarding, and the weight of accumulated experiences.
Nicolas Derro’s paintings weave a surreal tapestry of human emotion, identity, and absurdity. Through his use of vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and layered symbolism, Derro crafts works that are as humorous as they are haunting. Together, these pieces invite introspection and challenge societal norms, encouraging viewers to embrace the complexity of their inner worlds. Derro’s art serves as a powerful reminder that beneath the surface of absurdity lies profound emotional depth.
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I'll Find a Morning Ritual, Nicolas Derro, 2024, oil on canvas, 36 x 48 in. / 91.44 x 121.92 cm.
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