The artwork Celeste by Montana Engels is an ode to elegance and mystery. The portrait shows a woman reflecting in silence, caught in a web of lines and shadows. The background in soft purple tones enhances the dreamy and serene feeling.
Colorful butterflies hover around the face. Their wings in blue and gold bring movement and energy. The butterflies symbolize freedom, transformation and hope. Together they create a contrast between tranquility and vibrancy.
Up close, you see only vertical stripes. But step back a bit, and a realistic portrait unfolds. This play between abstract and realistic is characteristic of Montana English. It makes Celeste layered and intriguing.
The work speaks of inner strength and renewal. The woman’s gaze is intense, almost hypnotic. As a result, the artwork touches emotions that everyone recognizes: desire, reflection and growth. Celeste is not just a portrait, but a story in images.
About the artist:
Montana English is a young artist who developed a painting technique all her own. By using exclusively hand-painted lines, she manages to create portraits that look abstract up close, but as soon as you distance yourself, turn into surprisingly detailed and realistic portraits.
Her creative talent became apparent early on, but her breakthrough followed after participating in Belgium’s Got Talent. There she was discovered and her fame grew. Soon after, she was invited by the Hazard family to paint live, which accelerated her career. Montana has since worked for well-known artists, the Prince of Belgium, and performed at events such as Tomorrowland. She also made international collaborations with brands such as MAC Cosmetics, Disney, Aston Martin, Playstation, Porsche, MINI, The National Lottery, Sherathon, Qmusic, Monster, Jägermeister, Lolaliza, Bombay Sapphire, Gaston Luga, Tao, Bowmore, Binck Bank, Deme, Suspicious Antwerp, Antwerp Diamond Museum and many others.
What makes her art unique is the self-developed “striped” style: works composed of lines that together form a portrait. Up close they appear abstract, but from further away an impressive realism emerges.
