AARON EICHORST

Charlottesville, VA | aaroneichorst.com

My work is shaped by a deep appreciation for beauty as both refuge and resistance. Nature’s brilliance—shimmering wings, bold patterns, and fleeting glances—mirrors the vibrancy and resilience of queer existence. Inspired by the Grotesque style, I use symmetry and structure to frame moments of awe, subtly disrupting expectations to reflect the complexities of identity. The figures in my work meet the viewer’s gaze, inviting contemplation and connection. In a world that often overlooks the delicate and extraordinary, my paintings affirm that beauty is a radical act—one of defiance, survival, and joy.

I am captivated by nature’s beauty—the shimmer of a tree swallow’s feathers, the bold patterns of a butterfly’s wings, the bloom of a rhododendron. My work blends these elements into unexpected compositions, celebrating the extraordinary in the everyday. Inspired by the Grotesque style—historically used to ward off evil—I use symmetry to frame subjects that meet the viewer’s gaze, creating a portal for reflection.

Celebrating beauty is an act of resistance. In a world that often overlooks wonder, honoring the delicate and intricate becomes a radical gesture. My work asserts that beauty is not mere decoration but a form of defiance, a reclamation of presence, and an invitation to see deeply.