The Inside Joke
My latest artwork, "All That Glitters Is Not Gold," is equal parts social commentary and an inside joke, wrapped in the ongoing Halloween theme. On the surface, it shows a skeleton posing in a glamorous fashion shoot, wrapped in a skin tight golden dress that shimmers with the illusion of beauty and perfection. Like many of the skeletal pieces I am sharing this season, this painting belongs to my larger series, "The Inside Joke" (you can see the full gallery at elvissantana.com), which explores the masks people wear and the truths they hide beneath them. It reflects how social media has turned into a stage where people project picture perfect lives — traveling from one curated scene to another — while concealing their inner fractures, insecurities, and unhealed wounds.
Beneath the gold dress and polished facade lies the hollow reality of those who chase endless validation to fill the emptiness within. They collect people and experiences like trophies, constantly seeking admiration while discarding those who no longer serve their need for attention. Some cling desperately to youth, surrounding themselves with younger crowds, trying to outrun time and the consequences of their choices. The title comes from advice a dear friend once gave me: “Not everything that glitters is gold.” Those words have echoed through the years, reminding me that surface beauty and material shine often conceal deep emotional decay.
Prints and merchandise are available at our #RedBubble and #Society6 stores (links in bio).
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Private Collection
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