"Masked Vanity" Series

36"x48", Acrylic on Canvas
​Skylar Spitaleri, 2023

The "Masked Vanity" series examines the way society compels us to hide our emotions behind a metaphorical mask. Skylar uses sheer fabric as a symbolic veil, allowing the raw expressions on the subjects’ faces to remain visible while concealing their eyes—the universal gateway to truth. Inspired by sayings like “the eyes never lie” and “you can always tell someone’s emotions through their eyes,” the series underscores the tension between vulnerability and the pressure to appear composed.

By blending concealment and transparency, this series invites viewers to reflect on the fragile balance between authenticity and the facade we present to the world, capturing the complexity of human emotion in a visually striking and thought-provoking way.