A Multifaceted Artist
Michael Parkes is one of the leading exponents of magical realism in contemporary art, an artist whose work moves between the oniric (dreamlike), the esoteric, and the erotic. His work, manifested in paintings, lithographs, and sculptures, combines meticulous technique with an iconography laden with symbolism. Born in 1944 in Missouri, USA, he has established himself as a painter, sculptor, and lithographer, often called "The Magician of Realism." His artistic journey is marked by a quest for spirituality and self-knowledge, which is intensely reflected in his work. Throughout his career, Michael Parkes has developed a visual style that blends esoteric symbolism, mythology, and a deeply sensual and erotic approach to the female figure.
Fig.1 Secret
Fig.2 Butterfly Moon
Fig.3 The Secret In the Stars (2025)
Fig.4 Angel
The Female Body As the Center Of the Composition
Eroticism in the work of Michael Parkes is primarily manifested in the female figure, which occupies a central place in his compositions. His women are often depicted nude or in diaphanous garments, evoking an ethereal sensuality distant from vulgarity. Their bodies follow a classical idealization, reminiscent of the goddesses of Antiquity and the muses of the Renaissance, but inserted into unreal scenarios, where mythological creatures, exotic beasts, and fantastic architectural elements create a dreamlike environment.
The presence of these female figures refers to the pictorial tradition that explores sensuality and eroticism through the idealization of the body. In this sense, in his compositions, there is a fusion between the serenity of classical sculpture and the expressiveness of European symbolism of the 19th century, such as in the works of Gustav Klimt or Franz von Stuck. Eroticism in the work of Michael Parkes, however, is not just a formal matter, but also a conceptual one: his women are agents of transformation, becoming magical entities, holders of power and mystery.
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Fig.7 Unspecified
FIg.8 Nectar (Litho)
Sensuality And Symbolism
However, it is necessary to explain that Michael Parkes does not limit himself to representing the female body in an idealized way, since his compositions often include symbolic elements that amplify the meaning of sensuality and eroticism in his work, as is the case with Snakes, butterflies, felines, and mythical birds interact with his female figures, suggesting narratives of metamorphosis and transcendence. The snake, for example, carries a double symbolic charge: on the one hand, it represents esoteric knowledge and spiritual transformation; on the other, it evokes carnal desire and seduction, as in the Christian iconography of temptation. Unlike the Western tradition, which often associates nudity with sin and vulnerability, his female characters seem to transcend materiality, suggesting a constant transformation. Many of them have wings, a recurring element in his works, which symbolizes both lightness and the intermediate state between the earthly and the divine. Hence the ambiguity of his hybrid creatures, half-human, half-animal, which suggest a fusion between the physical and spiritual realms and, at the same time, articulate a game of seduction and mystery that instigates the viewer.
Fig.9 Night Day (Litho)
Fig.10 Wien (Litho)
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Fig.12 Scupture "The Kiss" (corrected version)
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Click HERE for the phallic universe of the magic realist Hans Kanters
Michael Parkes is active on Instagram
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