VIRUT FLAGSHIP GALLERY
“I believe what’s important in art is emotion.”
ABOUT
Born in 1980 in Bangkok, Thailand, Virut Panchabuse emerged as a prominent figure in the contemporary art scene with his innovative approach to portraiture. Armed with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the esteemed King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang, Bangkok, Virut embarked on a journey that would redefine the boundaries of traditional artistic expression. Virut’s artistic signature lies in his abandonment of conventional oil brushes in favour of vibrant magazine cuttings. Through a meticulous collage technique, he breathes life into his subjects, creating striking pop-art portraits bursting with emotion.
His creative process begins in the digital realm, where he scours through the avalanche of images inundating our daily lives. However, Virut’s quest transcends the pursuit of mere beauty or fame; he seeks the elusive essence of emotion. ”I believe this is what’s important in art – emotions,” he asserts. ”So I just look for images that evoke emotions.” In Virut’s world, gender, age, and ethnicity are inconsequential. Each subject becomes a vessel for the raw authenticity of human emotion. As he meticulously assembles thousands of tiny magazine patches, layer by layer, he captures the essence of his subjects, immortalizing their unique spirit.
From a distance, his portraits exude a hyper realistic allure, drawing viewers into a world where emotions reign supreme. Yet, upon closer inspection, the original images dissolve into a kaleidoscope of paper layers, leaving only the lingering imprint of feeling. Through his art, Virut invites us to explore the boundless depths of human emotion, reminding us that in a world filled with noise, it is the quiet whisper of feeling that truly resonates.
Red Bride with Gold Sheath
150 x 200cm
$27,000
Tibetan Child with Traditional Dress
120 x 170cm
$25,000
Ginger hair with lace dress
140 x 190cm
$27,000
Summertime
120 x 170cm
$25,000
Māori Man
200 x 200cm
$29,500
$25,000
Truly Smile
150 x 150cm
$25,000
Lollipop
120 x 170cm
$25,000
Grey Headed
140 x 180cm
$27,000
Green Silk Kimono
140 x 160cm
$25,000
Girl in Grey
140 x 180cm
$27,000
Sassy
120 x 180cm
$25,000
Mild Mona Lisa
120 x 170cm
$25,000
Pink & Gun
120 x 170cm
$25,000
Barbie Gum
140 x 170cm
$25,000
WHO is your idol?
Commission a piece of your own!
Maria Callas has been a lifelong idol of mine. She was one of the most outstanding soprano singers of the 20th century, and really was a trailblazer when it came to artistic performance. When the opportunity came up for VIRUT to re-create her for me, in his extraordinary collage style, I couldn’t wait to get started! I spent days hunting for my favourite image of her & found the black & white image below, which I provided to VIRUT in a high-resolution image. It was 8 months of anticipation while I waited for her to be created, it was well worth the wait.
This artwork ’Maria Callas’ is, by far, my favourite artwork in my entire collection and I will treasure it forever. She hangs in my bedroom, there is nothing better than waking up next to your idol! Every day, this artwork inspires me!
As I’ve had the experience firsthand commissioning VIRUT to create a portrait of my choice, please feel free to talk with us about any ideas you may have for your own. It could be your idol, a loved one, a family member, or even your favourite musician!
Kindest,
Pauline Bianchi Artbay Gallery Director
