There are moments in an artist’s life that defy words—and for me, 2010 was one of them. I answered a call from the prestigious Leopold Museum in Vienna as part of their “Meister von morgen” initiative, which invited watercolor submissions from emerging artists.
Among over 1,500 entries, my painting Mystery of Cy—from the series Homage to Cy Twombly—was chosen as one of the top 50 by the late Professor Rudolf Leopold himself. The message notifying me of this selection is one I’ve read countless times, and it still sends shivers down my spine. To have my work displayed in those legendary halls, just steps away from masterpieces by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, was beyond belief.
This tribute to Cy Twombly, whom I lovingly call my “father in art” ever since visiting his exhibition at the Prado in Madrid, became a testament to the power of dreams. Mystery of Cy isn’t just a painting—it’s the story of a dream fulfilled.
MOO - Monika Mori 