Looking inward as a source of inspiration in art is not unusual. It is how much art is created, from experience or personal observations. Using one’s self as a muse is also not unusual. When he was not painting local nude prostitutes, Egon Schiele became the object of his own affection in his work.

Argentine artist Santiago Infantino has forged ahead in a similar vain. His art of painted and manipulated photography has one consistent model: himself. From wearing nothing at all to donning a Darth Vader mask, Infantino welcomes the challenge of conveying vastly different messages in each piece of work with the same model.

Infantino has the ability to convincingly pull off themes of sensuality, power, comedy and ambiguity with ease, although the finalization process is not an easy one. Finding a way to realize his dream of becoming an artist was also difficult, growing up in the economically strapped South American country. It was not until he arrived in New York over eight years ago that he was able to consider art as a career.

Within weeks, Infantino had so many ideas of how to express himself through art, but in a city like New York, in was important for him to make something that was different, but also personal. This even creating for the sake of art and personal expression, even if it fell in direct conflict with commercial success. Because he had to stifle his talents for so long living in Argentina, remaining true to the art was something he felt adamant about, and still does.

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