Dead Man Walking, 2025, oil on canvas, 44 x 30 in. / 111.76 x 76.2 cm.

Dead Man Walking, Melissa Heilig, 2025, oil on canvas, 44 x 30 in. / 111.76 x 76.2 cm.

I discovered the figure's shape in the underpainting and had a visceral reaction. I quickly brought it to life with charcoal and oil paint, creating an embodiment of terror that represents fear at its core.