LOVE FACES
(96″ × 96″ / 244 cm × 244 cm, Mixed Media on Canvas, 2011)
Description
LOVE FACES is a monumental mixed-media painting commissioned for Trey Songz’s music video of the same name, directed by award-winning filmmaker Justin Francis. Created in just three days under intense creative pressure, this 8-foot-square canvas was not only featured in the video—it was central to its narrative. In the visual storyline, the painting becomes a third character, co-created on screen by the singer and his love interest, both of whom “paint” the piece together in a moment of intimacy, collaboration, and passion.
At the center of the composition is an original gel transfer of a woman’s face—turned in quiet reflection—layered beneath sweeping strokes of vivid red, deep blue, and soft white. Bright yellow paint explodes diagonally across the canvas like a streak of light, while accents of magenta, indigo glitter, and sea-glass green add richness and depth. The surface is raw, physical, alive with rhythm—echoing the tension and vulnerability expressed in the song itself.
The painting includes two handprints: one from Trey Songz, the other from Justin Francis, the director. These are not symbolic—they are literal, pressed into the paint during the filming. Since its release, the music video has been viewed over 89 million times on YouTube, with additional millions of streams across Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms—cementing the artwork’s presence in contemporary culture.
LOVE FACES stands not only as a rare physical relic of this cultural moment, but also as a turning point in Maria Lankina’s career: a ritual object born of fast, raw creation, where fine art, music, and cinematic storytelling converged. The painting has been preserved ever since and is now available for acquisition for the first time.
Caption
LOVE FACES – A massive, culture-crossing artwork featured in Trey Songz’s viral music video. With 89M+ views, two celebrity handprints, and a story that pulses through every layer.
Creation & Materials
Painted in Miami, USA (January 2011)
Mixed media on canvas: original photography gel transfer, acrylics, glitter
Dimensions: 96″ × 96″ (244 cm × 244 cm)
Commissioned for Trey Songz’s "Love Faces" music video (dir. Justin Francis)
Original Artwork by Maria Lankina
Physical & Practical Details
Layered Surface: Features sweeping action-painting strokes in red, blue, white, and yellow with scattered glitter accents
Embedded Photography: Gel transfer of a young woman’s face integrated into the canvas
Handprints: Includes the handprint of Trey Songz (right side) and Justin Francis (left side)
Edges & Framing: Rolled canvas, not stretched; ready to be mounted on deep stretcher bars
Installation: Professional mounting and hanging recommended due to scale and weight
Inspiration & Intent
Serves as a living artifact of a major R&B release seen by tens of millions
Embodies themes of sensuality, artistic connection, and collaborative creation
Evokes the intimacy and pressure of deadline-driven work in service of both story and spectacle
Artistic Influences & Style
Combines Action Painting with photo-transfer techniques similar to Robert Rauschenberg
Blends pop-culture vibrancy with expressive abstraction in the vein of David Salle and Sam Francis
Anchored in gesture, surface texture, and visual rhythm
