The Day Pandora Set Me Free (Misteriora), acrylic on canvas

Michael Carini is an artist based in San Diego, California. In his practice, Carini is known as the Acrylic Alchemist, creating works in his titular medium that utilize geometric abstraction and saturated colours to achieve an effect that’s almost digital in appearance.

Just Floating On The Tears (Flears), acrylic on canvas

In his recent series The Boy in the Box, Carini’s paintings explore the desire and search for “personal freedom,” and serve to push the envelope both visually and conceptually. Carini takes the acrylic medium to fascinating extremes -- there’s a sort of mathematical sensibility throughout the series. With canvases covered in fine strands of colour that mesh together in the manner of grass, wire, or hair, it’s easy to think of fractals or quantum physics while exploring these works.

The colour palette that Carini favours is unapologetically saturated, with hues ranging from deep, dark blues to bright magentas and neon yellows. Some of the images remind me of digital works by Melissa Ann Lambert, making Carini’s use of traditional media all the more fascinating.

King Nothing And The Discovery Of The Lost Venus (For SAMO), acrylic and spray paint on panel