Marlene Dumas (b. 1953) is a Dutch artist born in South Africa, recognized for her evocative, emotionally intense paintings that delve into themes of identity, sexuality, and human vulnerability. Primarily working with portraiture, Dumas draws from photographic sources, reinterpreting them into intimate and sometimes disquieting images through loose, flowing brushwork and a subdued color palette. Her art often engages with socio-political topics, including race, gender, and mortality. Known for its psychological depth, Dumas’s work is exhibited in major museums and collections worldwide, cementing her reputation as one of today’s foremost contemporary artists.