By: Stacy Runnels
The imaginative freedom of modern art knows no bounds, but certain genres evoke stronger reactions than others. One such genre is Dark Art—a visual exploration of the mysterious and unsettling aspects of human existence. For many artists, this style has long served as a powerful medium to express inner turmoil and the darker sides of human nature.
Even within this expressive genre, new niches continue to emerge, further expanding the boundaries of darkness. One of these is Psychological Horror Abstraction.
The Origins of Dark Art
Inspiration drawn from horror and surrealism dates back to humanity’s fascination with the mysterious aspects of its own nature, which has been present for centuries. The golden age of Dark Art coincided with the ominous medieval period. Grotesque depictions of death, moral decay, and fear, presented in subdued color palettes, are typical of the genre. These images confront viewers with aspects of themselves they’d rather forget or ignore.
What is Psychological Horror Abstraction
Psychological Horror Abstraction is a relatively new subgenre of Dark Art, emerging in the 21st century.
While traditional Dark Art uses recognizable, often macabre imagery, Psychological Horror Abstraction delves into the metaphysical. The imagery still evokes discomfort, but it’s more abstract, allowing viewers to fill in the gaps. This mirrors the chaotic nature of human fear, where disorienting compositions and distorted forms resemble the subconscious struggle to process emotions.
The Visual Language of Fear
At the core of Psychological Horror Abstraction lies surrealism and unconventional color schemes. Where Dark Art traditionally favors blacks, grays, reds, and purples, Psychological Horror Abstraction embraces unexpected contrasts. This highlights the idea that fear is always a battle between light and darkness.
Figures and shapes are intentionally exaggerated or fragmented, reminiscent of disjointed thoughts under extreme psychological pressure. Faces are distorted or entirely obscured, while hands stretch out in desperation but are never fully formed. These images deliver a visual message directed at fear itself: fear of the unknown, the invisible, or the unexplainable. As a result, viewing art in this style becomes a deeply personal journey into one’s own subconscious.
How Psychological Horror Abstraction Affects People
While Dark Art is often meant to provoke discomfort, Psychological Horror Abstraction does so in a more subtle way. Instead of shocking the viewer, it invites them to engage with their own fears and anxieties. The experience is deeply personal. You don’t simply see the horror—you feel it. Initially, it’s unclear why a particular painting makes you uneasy. But within moments, repressed memories and emotions flood back in a wave of suppressed recollection.
Does Psychological Horror Abstraction Have a Future?
Thousands of artists worldwide are experimenting with the combination of psychological themes and abstraction, challenging not only artistic but also psychological standards—specifically, how people emotionally engage with art.
Given this trend, there’s every reason to believe that Psychological Horror Abstraction will remain a significant and captivating movement within Dark Art.
Who Created Psychological Horror Abstraction
The founder of this movement is Evgenii Panteleev, a Los Angeles-based illustrator and tattoo artist. His paintings evoke a meditative state of horror, with imagery that unsettles without relying on overt grotesque or violent elements. This delicate balance between chaos and structure is maintained through Panteleev’s unique technique—layering abstract forms.
It feels as though eerie figures are bursting from the canvas, only to dissolve back into an abstract landscape. This effect mirrors the process of peeling back the layers of the psyche to confront the inner horrors that lurk beneath.
Published by: Martin De Juan
