Death to the Ego, 48" x 60"

Acrylic on Canvas.

48" x 60" x 1.5"

"In psychoanalytic theory, the ego mediates the conscious and unconscious. In reality, the ego can be our worst enemy and distort our subjective self-identity. Should we simply accept or "mind" the ego? Or strive for "ego death"? But can one truly kill the ego?

For me, art is meant to dually evoke an intellectual and intimately emotional response. It is intended to tell a story; to demonstrate the vulnerability of the artist while innately seeking to uncover similar vulnerabilities with its audience. Of course, art must always seek to make a statement. In that statement lies the beauty. Always operating on the ethos of experimentation and disruption, my work delivers a distinctive and unapologetic style that truly speaks volumes. My work fuses abstraction & language to challenge social norms, reframe common perspectives, and expose overlooked ones.

By tackling various psychocultural topics relating to contemporary culture, the viewer is encouraged to reflect, and confront the subjects applying their life experiences and subconscious drivers. It's not for everyone, and given the subject matter, the work will be loved or hated, but the polarization is much welcomed."

Patrick Skals is a Canadian born Conceptual Artist currently residing in Toronto, ON. In 2019, after 10 years employed in corporate marketing, he decided to make a major career shift in pursuit of his artistic & entrepreneurial ambitions. Patrick’s current body of work delivers a distinctive and unapologetic style that truly speaks volumes. Inspired by Bochner and Basquiat, Patrick’s work fuses abstraction & language to challenge social norms, reframe common perspectives, and expose overlooked ones. Although non-confrontational by nature, Patrick’s work emboldens him to express satirical and subversive commentary on popular culture and the contemporary art world. The viewer is invited to feel the vulnerability of an artist battling with himself and his environment. Patrick’s work can be found at juried shows, commercial galleries, and private collections throughout NA and Europe.