East Village Nocturne

Oil on linen, 24″ x 48″, 2023

The setting of this painting is the Empellón Al Pastor bar located at St. Marks Place and Avenue A, across the street from Tompkins Square Park in the East Village. I was particularly interested in how it’s lit at night and the effect of “outside looking in” when their doors are open in the warm weather.

The outer wall includes a ceramic relief sculpture as well as mural and graffiti, and the interior includes a painted portrait and murals on the walls and ceiling.

Above the bar, the windows provide hints of activity inside: a feline observer from a darkened apartment, glimpses of light from drawn shades, and blue light from a screen.

Here is a video of the painting process, and here are more East Village, nocturnal and inside-out scenes.