The human body is one of the hardest things to accurately portray on a canvas. Its nuances are many and it’s a subject that we as viewers know better than most — the shapes, bends, colors and folds of our skin. Perhaps that’s why it’s painted so frequently. A nude body can titillate and nauseate. More so, an undressed torso can be at once safe, warm and comforting, and in the next moment, offer up danger, intrigue and mystery. The below works all have one thing in common: They depict characters in some state of undress from the waist up. Maybe one of these days, some dumb daring gallery hoping to up their cred on the internet will give us the keys to their joint and let us curate our own show. Until then, you’ll just have to enjoy the art on our virtual walls, pixelated for your enjoyment.

Aaron Nagle, Untied

Audrey Kawasaki, Lovesongs

Geoffrey Chadsey, Grinder

Derek Gores, Too Busy Fascinating

Jim Heimann, Spring Break

Jonathan Weiner, Yevgeniya

Mu Pan, Mermaid

Janice Urnstein Weissman, Untitled

Eric White, Here (After Albers)

Craig LaRotunda, Feast of the Undead

Danni Shinya Luo, Weakling

Jason Shawn Alexander, Jessica

Ray Abeyta, Amor Perdido

Shawn Barber, Portrait of the Artist, Jo Harrison

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