The painters that bring condensation to fine art
By Tatiana Tatum
‘Sweaty’ by Tatiana Tatum
As an artist who paints foggy windows, I often hear, “Wow, I’ve never seen anything like that!” And occasionally, someone stumbles across another artist on Instagram who also paints condensation and asks, “Are you copying them?”
But no artist owns a subject. Through art history, artists have returned to the same imagery over and over again. Not because they lack originality, but because some motifs are too powerful to let go. Just look at the Renaissance or Baroque periods: hundreds of “Madonna and Child” paintings, yet no one accused Caravaggio of ripping off Raphael.
To show just how rich and diverse the world of foggy window painting is, let me introduce you to a handful of artists—some well-known, one emerging—who’ve turned condensation into their visual language.
It (Sort of) Started in the 18th Century
French painter Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin was among the first
‘Glass Of Water And Coffee Pot’ by Jean-Simeon Chardin, French, c. 1761, Carnegie Museum of Art
to render condensation with breathtaking realism. In Glass of Water and Coffee Pot (c. 1760), he used thick, luminous brushstrokes to depict moisture clinging to a drinking glass; arguably one of the earliest examples of painterly condensation.[¹]
A leading figure in contemporary realism, Monks often paints women behind fogged-up shower glass. Her work is exploring vulnerability and the gaze conceptually. According to the artist’s instagram, steam obscures the likeness of the model just enough to be anyone who feels the same. [²] instagram.com/alysaamonks
Minter’s enamel-on-metal works are glossy, raw, and politically charged. In pieces like Chin Up and Control, sensual figures are seen behind condensation-covered glass—confronting beauty standards, media, and power. Marilyn’s career features work with the titans of the art world, like Gagosian Gallery. She once said: “I thought everything looked better a little wet.” marilynminter.net
Known for her photorealistic oil paintings, Kneffel overlays fogged or rain-streaked glass onto interiors and still lifes. Often including finger-written words or smeared marks, her work plays with perception and illusion.[⁴]
Another Gagosian gallery’s protégé, she reinvents the idea of the “picture window”—a term from Renaissance painting describing a painted surface that mimics a literal window. But Kneffel fogs it up, turning viewing into an interactive process where the clarity is partial and the viewer becomes a witness to something half-seen.
Perhaps the most “Instagram-famous” foggy window artist, Muehlenbrink paints condensation as a nostalgic playground: smiley faces, stars, hearts, finger trails. His trompe-l’oeil technique that combines airbrush, acrylic, oil and occasional droplet of resin tricks the viewer into believing real moisture is present.[⁵]
A seasoned painter, Silva paints rainy, steamy windows with delicate washes and scribbled marks. Unlike Muehlenbrink’s childlike doodles, his finger drawings feel more like an artist’s signature—figure sketches, portraits, and linework etched into the fog. His works are deeply nostalgic andmeditative. He utilises technique of “watercolor done wrong”, pushing the boundaries of the medium.[⁶]
‘Meow from the Backseat’ by Tatiana Tatum
And me? I paint condensation over Lowcountry streets and car window views. For me, the fog isn’t just visual—it’s emotional. It’s about being the backseat passenger, creative energy bottled up, the outside world smeared by heat and humidity. “Lowcountry is so hot and humid, that at times I feel like the entire world is sweating, so I keep coming back to this imagery”.
These artists don’t just paint moisture. They paint memory, intimacy, resistance, and boredom. All seen through the same filter: condensation. And while our interpretations vary wildly, we’re all part of a tradition that proves foggy windows are more than just a child’s plaything.
So the next time you see a painting of a steamy pane and think, “That looks familiar”… that’s kind of the point.
Tatiana Tatum is a Beaufort-based artist obsessed with all things water—from condensation on windows to floating women. Her work has been exhibited at the Telfair Museum’s PULSE Art + Technology Festival, the Alexandria Museum of Art, and the Long Beach Island Foundation. You can find her works at www.tatianatatum.com and at Thibault Gallery in Beaufort, SC. For questions: tatiana@tatianatatum.com
