In the beginning there was poetry…
33PA’s journey into existence is poetic, not metaphorically, I do mean quite literally. In 2026, 33PA is a thriving online platform and international art community home to over 150 artists who specialise in contemporary realism, but it was once a humble home to a few poets looking to share some dial up internet space together.
33PA is the beloved brainchild of Didi Menendez which began its journey at the end of the last century as a small poetry community which has slowly evolved into something bigger than Didi could have ever imagined. Thanks to the early internet, her coven of poets transformed into an online publication; one which would pave the way for similar publications during this time. Eventually, the publication went to print and it was here that Didi began incorporating artwork that would compliment the poetry collections. As the publication grew, art became its central focus and with that came art collectors looking to purchase and galleries who were keen to collaborate.
“This was right before Instagram” Didi notes and whilst the digital landscape looked a lot different than it does today, there was certainly plenty of buzz in the art community. Many notable works featured ended up in the hands of the Tullman Collection in Chicago which then caught the eye of Sergio Gomez, the then-Director of Zhou B Art Center. Didi began collaborating frequently with Sergio and eventually, the two would partner up to officially establish the 33PA brand. This digital gallery remain exclusively on Artsy up until 2025 when Didi decided to branch out and set up a booth as the Palm Beach Art & Design showroom.
What 33PA can do for you
The artist experience can often be a lonely one. Many hours are spent in quiet studios with only ones thoughts for company. 33PA offers a break from this artistic void, offering its members the chance to be part of a community of like-minded people alongside a plethora of other benefits. Artists who specialise in contemporary realism can join the community by visiting their Patreon which offers four unique tiers tailored to artistic needs and budgets.
The platform also offers other support including mentorships for artists who may feel they need additional support alongside plenty of marketing opportunities. These opportunities include features in major art publications including Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, American Art Collector, and Fine Art Connoisseur as well as features on leading social media venues.
Exhibitions are another big opportunity for artists who join 33PA as the publication often collaborates with partner gallery 33 Contemporary to offer online group shows via Artsy alongside exhibitions and fairs in the new South Florida showroom in Palm Beach.
33PA has no plans of slowing down, as their roster of artists continues to grow, so do the opportunities. Plenty of exciting projects are currently in the works including their new group show Painting The Figure Now which will debut later this year alongside partnerships with a variety of guest curators including John Hughes who is in the process of writing an essay about his curatorial.
To keep up to date with 33PA please visit their website.
33PA Artist Spotlight
Artists are the backbone of 33PA and so we wanted to take some time to shine a light on five incredible talents that are current involved in the community! Each of these artists have their own unique voice within the contemporary realism genre. Continue reading to learn more about Angelika Weinekötter, Sara Scribner, Matt Talbert, Stephanie Deshpande, and Paola Charnet and see a selection of their most recent works.
Angelika Weinekötter
Angelika Weinekötter’s oil paintings explore the profound relationship between humans and animals. Her series “Dialogue of Species” highlights the emotional connection and mutual perception between these worlds, urging reflection on ethical and emotional ties to the animal kingdom.
Fascinated by the bond between different beings since childhood, Weinekötter captures these intense emotions in her detailed paintings. She employs old master techniques with thin glazes of oil paint on canvas, blending them with a modern approach to her themes, creating works of contemporary realism.
With a background in painting and graphic arts from IBKK Bochum, Germany, and ongoing workshops and retreats with renowned international artists like Mary-Jane Ansell and Ron Hicks, she brings deep expertise and passion to her art. Weinekötter’s pieces create spaces for new, respectful dialogues between species and emotionally enrich the viewers’ homes. Her artistic vision invites recognition and experience of the complex relationships and beauty of life.
Oil on linen, 20×16 in
Oil on linen, 12×12 in
Sara Scribner
Sara Scribner is a contemporary figurative painter whose work bridges classical realism and poetic narrative. Her portraits often depict solitary female figures inhabiting dreamlike spaces, where elements of nature—flowers, birds, and symbolic forms—unfold in quiet layers of meaning, inviting personal interpretation. Rooted in traditional technique yet imbued with a sense of whimsy and subtle mystery, Scribner’s paintings become acts of visual storytelling—intimate, contemplative, and open-ended—offering viewers a space to reflect, imagine, and connect with the inner life of the subject.
Oil on aluminum, 38×30 in
Oil on aluminum, 30×31 in
About Sara’s upcoming exhibition Los Ojos Que Ven:
I have long been drawn to symbolism, and to the eye as a vessel of meaning—symbols acting as a quiet bridge between human beings, carrying shared understanding across time, culture, and language. They allow us to recognize ourselves in one another, to communicate what is felt but not easily spoken, and to find connection in images that resonate on a deeply human level.
In this body of work, I turn inward, exploring the possibility of communion with a higher self—one that exists beyond the noise of ego. It is a presence rooted in stillness, offering love without condition, acceptance without judgment, and a clarity that feels both intimate and infinite.
Los Ojos Que Ven (The Eyes That See) speaks to this state of awareness: a gentle awakening, a soft and steady gaze turned toward the self. It is an invitation to see more deeply—to recognize the quiet truth that has always been there.
Stephanie Deshpande
Based in northern New Jersey, Stephanie Deshpande is an American artist who specialises in contemporary realism. She is renowned for her psychological portraits and narrative paintings which blend realism with personal allegories. She also enjoys painting pet portraits and regularly explores floral still life. Her current body of work plays with light and shadow to create dramatic, emotionally charged scenes as she delves into hidden emotions and captures the quiet drama of everyday moments.
After completing her BFA in Painting from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and her MFA from the New York Academy of Art, Stephanie has continued to hone her skills as an oil painter. Her work has gained recognition from many prestigious organisations and publications including the Portrait Society of America, Oil Painters of America, Poets Artists Magazine, and Fine Art Connoisseur.
Oil on linen panel, 14×11 in
Oil on linen, 24×36 in
Matt Talbert
Matt Talbert is a contemporary figurative artist based in Southern California. He is renowned for his expressive oil paintings that depict the human figure. Whilst Matt paints people, his core artistic philosophy delves deeper as he seeks to explore and depict emotional states over superficial appearances. “I blur the line between our physical reality and the one that is going on in our heads.”
Using a modern interpretation of alla prima painting, Matt creates works that are soft yet defined as he creates combines subtle skin tones with bold colours and thick textured backgrounds. His body of work utilises facial expressions to communicate universal truths about the human condition and its many intricacies.
Oil on panel, 32×24 in
Oil on linen, 30×20 in
Paola Charnet
Paola Charnet is a figurative oil painter whose work delves into human emotions, employing geometry as a visual language that conveys feelings through the expressive use of color and form. Through abstract shapes and patterns, she captures the complexities of emotions, illustrating how they flow, shift, and intertwine in a delicate balance of clarity and chaos. The interplay of circles, curves, and angular forms reveals that emotions are rarely linear; they evolve through cycles of intensity and softness.
Charnet’s practice embodies a fusion of ancient and contemporary aesthetics, reflecting the interconnectedness of time and emotion. As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, her geometric language articulates intricate experiences beyond the limitations of words. Her paintings invite viewers to explore their own emotional landscapes as intricate systems, uncovering the hidden architecture that shapes our lives.
Oil on wood panel, 11 7/10×16 1/2 in
Oil on wood panel, 16 1/2×11 7/10 in
