{"title":"Collected WORKS","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA selection of original works that have found their homes in private collections. These pieces remain part of the evolving story and portfolio of LaGrutta Art.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"curious-original-giraffe-painting-contemporary-wildlife-art","title":"Curious — Original Giraffe Painting | Contemporary Wildlife Art","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCurious\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere is something wonderfully disarming about being looked at this closely.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCurious\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e brings the giraffe forward until there is almost nowhere else for the viewer to look. Its oversized eyes and direct gaze create an immediate sense of personality, while layers of turquoise, deep blue, ochre and black dissolve portions of the animal into the surrounding abstract surface.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExpressive marks, scratches, overlapping paint and areas of heavy texture contrast with the carefully rendered eyes, allowing realism and abstraction to exist within the same portrait.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRather than depicting wildlife from a distance, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCurious\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e turns the encounter around. The animal isn’t simply being observed—it appears equally interested in the person standing before it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlayful, unconventional and full of character, the painting explores curiosity and the unexpected individuality we recognize in the natural world.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal painting — SOLD\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrivate collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"LaGrutta Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48887673618585,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/6465\/9609\/files\/68EB3416-6F95-46B4-8C92-14D9B9FCF9F2.png?v=1786510832"},{"product_id":"stillness-original-elephant-painting-contemporary-wildlife-art-sold","title":"Stillness — Original Elephant Painting | Contemporary Wildlife Art","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStillness\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStillness\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a study in quiet presence.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEmerging from a restrained field of blue, charcoal, soft violet and weathered ivory, the elephant feels both monumental and deeply introspective. Loose marks, scratches and fragmented passages move across the surface of the face while the eye remains sharply present, creating an intimate point of connection with the viewer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe painting deliberately balances realism with abstraction. Portions of the elephant appear fully formed while others seem to dissolve into color, texture and atmosphere, suggesting something remembered rather than simply observed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts physical strength is unmistakable, but \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStillness\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is less about power than presence—the intelligence, endurance and quiet dignity carried in a single gaze.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal painting — SOLD\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrivate collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"LaGrutta Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48887672275097,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/6465\/9609\/files\/IMG_0507.heic?v=1789171643"},{"product_id":"deep-red-original-octopus-painting-contemporary-marine-art-sold","title":"Deep Red — Original Octopus Painting | Contemporary Marine Art","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeep Red\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSomething moves beneath the surface.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeep Red\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, an intensely saturated octopus emerges from a field of deep turquoise, blue and green, its curling arms pushing beyond the composition as though the animal cannot quite be contained by the canvas.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLayers of expressive paint, marks and texture create a surface that feels almost aquatic. The surrounding abstraction suggests depth and movement without defining a literal underwater environment, while the vivid red-orange body creates an immediate visual tension against the cooler background.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt the center of the composition, the eye provides a quieter counterpoint to all that movement—a reminder of the remarkable intelligence behind this strange and extraordinary animal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeep Red\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e explores mystery, movement and the hidden intelligence of the natural world, balancing recognizable form with an expressive, heavily worked surface.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal painting — SOLD\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrivate collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"LaGrutta Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48887672242329,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/6465\/9609\/files\/IMG_0042.heic?v=1789171650"},{"product_id":"r0-57-einstein-covid-19-painting","title":"R₀ \u003e 57 — Einstein COVID-19 Mixed Media Painting | Contemporary Political Art","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eR₀ \u0026gt; 57\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Mixed Media \u0026amp; Acrylic Painting on Canvas | SOLD — Private Collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eR₀ \u0026gt; 57\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a satirical portrait of Albert Einstein created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the collision of science, politics, and human behavior that defined it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEinstein appears wearing a protective face mask, surrounded by imagery drawn from both his scientific legacy and the visual language of the pandemic. Floating throughout the composition are representations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus—the now-familiar spherical forms with protruding spike proteins that became an unmistakable symbol of COVID-19.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePortions of the virus imagery are painted with fluorescent pigment. After exposure to light, these elements continue to glow in the dark, allowing the virus to remain visible even after the surrounding painting disappears into darkness—an intentional physical extension of the work’s subject.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAcross the painting are mathematical notations based on Einstein’s calculations and handwriting. Among them is an equation created specifically for the piece:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTrump20 \/ COVID19 = R₀ \u0026gt; 57\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eR₀, or the basic reproduction number, is used in epidemiology to describe how readily an infectious disease can spread through a susceptible population. Here, the notation is deliberately exaggerated rather than presented as a literal epidemiological calculation. It serves as political satire—a visual criticism of the U.S. response to COVID-19 under President Donald Trump in 2020 and the consequences the artist associates with misinformation, leadership, and human behavior during the pandemic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe idea culminates in Einstein’s famous observation incorporated into the painting:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlending portraiture, scientific imagery, mathematics, fluorescent paint, and political commentary, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eR₀ \u0026gt; 57\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e documents a specific moment in history through satire. The work asks what happens when scientific reality collides with politics—and what role human behavior plays when the consequences become exponential.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDetails\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal, one-of-a-kind artwork\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMixed media and acrylic on canvas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFluorescent\/glow-in-the-dark painted elements\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHand-painted by Jen LaGrutta\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSigned original\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSOLD — Private Collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTheme\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eScience, political satire, misinformation, human behavior, and the COVID-19 pandemic.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStyle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eContemporary Figurative · Mixed Media · Political\/Social Commentary · Conceptual Portraiture\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"LaGrutta Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48887670636697,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/6465\/9609\/files\/8B59CB58-6D2C-4A95-85CF-D2FD5C51C56B.jpg?v=1789171686"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/6465\/9609\/collections\/68EB3416-6F95-46B4-8C92-14D9B9FCF9F2.png?v=1788054768","url":"https:\/\/lagruttaart.com\/collections\/collected-works.oembed","provider":"LaGrutta Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}