This encaustic piece presents a battle-worn shark — textured, scarred, unapologetically afloat. Set against a chaotic burst of neon colors and street-style spray, the background evokes both the violence and vitality of survival. The shark doesn’t just swim; it carries its past across its body like a map of every fight it’s won simply by staying alive. Underneath, a shadow — perhaps its former self, perhaps the weight of every time it was underestimated. This is not about luck. It’s about what it takes to still be here. A small painting with heavy truth.

Papayon Papayon

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Papayon is a contemporary artist whose work explores tension, irony, and spiritual resilience through figurative painting. Rooted in classical technique and driven by raw, contemporary urgency, his imagery moves between control and collapse — where symbols, animals, and human gestures become quiet acts of defiance. His practice draws from art history, personal narrative, and lived experience, favoring emotional impact over explanation. Each piece functions as a fragment of a larger story, inviting the viewer to linger, question, and return. Based in Houston, Papayon’s work has been exhibited internationally and collected across the U.S. and Mexico.