Between Skin and Canvas: The Unfiltered World of Joanna Shetsen

The First Marks: An Instinct Before Language

For Joanna Shetsen, art was never a choice; it was a reflex. Long before handwriting exercises or spelling tests, her hands gravitated toward doodles, lines, and imagined forms. The blank page became a site of fascination rather than intimidation. Each year brought not just growth, but reinvention: new ideas, evolving techniques, and a deepening desire to communicate something internal and unspoken. What began as childhood arts and crafts gradually transformed into a committed practice, eventually leading her to oil on canvas and a lifelong dialogue with image-making.

Formed by Creative Environments

Shetsen’s artistic voice was shaped within spaces rich with creative exchange. Being surrounded by other artists and students did more than teach technique; it nurtured curiosity, discipline, and emotional awareness. Observing older artists experiment with materials and processes sparked something lasting. These early studio experiences planted a fire that continues to burn. Even now, the act of entering a studio is restorative: the faint scent of acrylic, the presence of wooden easels, the rhythmic sound of graphite against paper. It is a sensory environment that recharges her, grounding her in both memory and momentum.

Capturing the Unplanned Moment

At the core of Shetsen’s work is an unwavering devotion to authenticity. She is drawn to moments that feel accidental, those brief instants when people are unguarded, exposed, and real. Her figures do not perform for the viewer; they exist despite being seen. This sensibility is deeply influenced by photographer Harris Nukem, whose emotionally charged imagery resonates with her instinct to portray raw human presence. Rather than idealizing her subjects, Shetsen leans into vulnerability, tension, and quiet unease, emotions that linger long after the viewer steps away.

From Photograph to Paint: A Turning Point

A pivotal shift in Shetsen’s practice came when she began translating photographic references into large-scale oil paintings. With permission from model Angela Mazzanti, she launched a bold color collection in 2024. Works such as I Feel Like I’m Drowning and Modern Insanity marked a defining moment, monumental in scale and immersive in emotional weight. These paintings do not simply depict figures; they confront the viewer with psychological intensity, demanding engagement rather than passive observation.

Tattoo Aesthetics and Grit as Beauty

An unflinching tattoo-inspired aesthetic weaves through much of Shetsen’s color work. It is deliberately unpolished, raw textured, and honest. She builds her surfaces through layers of dry-brush scumbling, creating grit and depth while preserving subtle transitions. Brush choice is critical; each tool becomes an extension of intent. This balance between control and abrasion gives her paintings a visceral quality, echoing the permanence and intimacy of tattoo art while existing firmly within the realm of fine art.

Charcoal, Gesture, and the Release of Control

In contrast to the density of her oil paintings, Shetsen’s pencil and charcoal works explore restraint and release. She takes time constructing tonal ranges, allowing light and shadow to emerge gradually. Deep blacks are introduced with precision, amplifying contrast and emotional tension. When water enters the process, however, predictability dissolves. Wet charcoal bleeds and drips across the paper, creating movement and spontaneity. This loose, gestural approach has become increasingly significant to her practice, therapeutic, instinctual, and deeply freeing. Watching gray water flow feels like surrendering to the work rather than directing it.

Exhibiting Intimacy in New York City

Over the past few years, Shetsen has showcased her work in intimate gallery venues across New York City, including Tribeca and Chelsea. These exhibitions offer more than exposure; they create connection. Meeting fellow artists, collectors, and viewers face-to-face reinforces the relational nature of her work, art as conversation rather than commodity.

Expanding Dimensions: What Comes Next

Though only 22 years old, Shetsen’s vision is expansive. Her projects are conceived to fill rooms not just visually, but emotionally. Looking ahead, she plans to further integrate tattooing, sculpture, and photography into her practice, allowing her ideas to move fluidly across mediums. Each new direction is not a departure, but an extension, another way to explore the body, emotion, and the spaces where vulnerability lives.

Following the Journey

Joanna Shetsen’s work continues to evolve in real time, shaped by instinct, material, and emotional honesty. To view new pieces, behind-the-scenes studio moments, and works in progress, follow her on Instagram at @joannashetsen and @itsbyjoanna, where skin, canvas, and emotion converge.