Dreamy Marilyn
Details
Edition
Unique
Medium
Acrylic on Canvas
Signature
Initialed Bottom Right
Unframed Dimensions
47.25 x 47.25 x 2 in
120.02 x 120.02 x 5.08 cm
Year
2025
More from this artist
About the artist
Gavin Rain (b. 1971, Cape Town, South Africa) is an internationally acclaimed contemporary artist best known for his Neo-Pointillist portraits which are large-scale, meticulously layered paintings in which thousands of hand-painted concentric circles resolve into a recognizable image only when viewed from a distance. Rain’s practice merges optical science, digital logic, and Pop Art sensibilities into a signature style that is instantly identifiable on the global art stage.
Rain studied Art and Neuropsychology at the University of Cape Town in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a dual foundation that continues to shape his work. His interest in perception, cognition, and the mechanics of vision led him to develop his hallmark technique around 2004. Drawing inspiration from Georges Seurat’s pointillism and early 20th-century Russian avant-garde painting, Rain created a new methodology: portraits built dot-by-dot, color-by-color, circle-by-circle.
Each dot in a Gavin Rain painting is composed of roughly five distinct colors applied in carefully calibrated layers. Up close, the colors appear abstract, almost sculptural; as the viewer steps back, their eye optically merges these components into a unified tone and the larger portrait emerges with startling clarity. Rain’s work encourages the viewer to move, step back, and participate in the act of revelation. As the artist emphasizes: “Everyone has to step back. The message is hidden in plain sight.”
His subjects include global cultural figures such as Beyoncé, Nelson Mandela, Marilyn Monroe, and political and social icons from around the world. By using familiar public figures, Rain highlights the interplay between celebrity and perception while creating portraits that resonate across continents and generations.
Rain has exhibited widely throughout Europe, the United States, Mexico, and South Africa, with nearly 20 international solo exhibitions and numerous group presentations since the early 2000s. His work was showcased at the 54th Venice Biennale in 2011 in the Costa Rica pavilion, solidifying his standing as a leading figure in contemporary optical and Pop-influenced art. He has also been commissioned to create a series of 12 portraits for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, aligning him with notable South African and global artists.
Gavin Rain’s paintings appeal to collectors for their extraordinary craftsmanship, instant visual impact, and global recognizability. His unique Neo-Pointillist language blends digital aesthetics with traditional painting, creating works that feel both highly technical and emotionally resonant. With major international visibility, museum-level exhibitions, and a growing collector base, Rain’s work represents a compelling opportunity for contemporary art enthusiasts seeking innovation, scale, and cultural relevance.
Explore Gavin Rain at DTR Modern Galleries
DTR Modern Galleries has proudly represented Gavin Rain since our earliest years, showcasing his dynamic pointillist portraits alongside leading contemporary and Pop Art masters. Discover available works at our gallery locations in Boston, New York City, Palm Beach, and Washington, D.C.
