Self Portrait (aerosol on canvas; 48 × 60 in) is one of Rock CYFI Martinez’s most intimate examinations of identity, rendered through atmospheric spray, anatomical precision, and a raw, unfiltered gaze.

The skull emerges from warm gradients of red and beige, its structure defined by soft aerosol transitions that echo both vulnerability and permanence. Martinez uses the skull not as a symbol of mortality, but as a foundation,  the underlying architecture of self beneath expression, gesture, and environment.

The detailed eye sockets, nasal cavity, and teeth create a striking contrast against the smooth, painterly fields of color, revealing the tension between realism and abstraction that defines his work. In this portrait, identity is stripped to its core, inviting viewers to consider what remains when all external surfaces fall away.