ANDREY ARANYSHEV
ANDREY ARANYSHEV
Mr. Aranyshev’s Cubist influence is evident in the fractured planes of his backgrounds, the angular treatment of his figures, and the playful proportions of his compositions. The artist successfully combines these aspects with the softer, more whimsical qualities of Symbolism. His paintings’ rich textured backgrounds are reminiscent of the work of Gustav Klimt. The layers of paint catch the light and shimmer with color, lending the canvases an air of fantasy. The effect wraps Mr. Aranyshev’s subjects in an aura of mystery, illuminating their features with sparks of light that spring from the slightly metallic layers. The artist’s rich jewel tone palette magnifies this brilliant effect, giving several of Mr. Aranyshev’s paintings a luminous beauty not unlike a window of sparkling stained glass. Mr. Aranyshev further demonstrates his mastery of color through his lively use of pattern. The artist skillfully manipulates his luxurious hues and broken planes to create areas of repeating shapes and colors that add depth and intrigue to the picture plane. Each painting is truly a jewel, waiting to reveal its emotion and striking splendor to the viewer.
AMY COHEN BANKER
AMY COHEN BANKER
Ms. Banker’s compelling paintings range in style from entirely non-representational to abstractions of flora and fauna. Her prodigious oeuvre is connected with her overarching themes of endurance, inner restoration and the exploration of reality versus myth. Ms. Banker uses eloquent texture, from granular to creamy, to further express her inner passions and emotions, construct narrative and to provide a sensorial experience for the viewer. This dynamic texture is created through thick impasto brushstrokes so that like a sculptor, Ms. Banker brings her images into the three dimensional sphere. Her intuitive coloration communicates her passions and ruminations through a prismatic palette of shades like fiery lava red, lucent tangelo, electric blue and luminous fuchsia. Each brushstroke exudes an individual vivaciousness, as though created by a bevy of fairies that descended upon the canvas. In this fashion, Ms. Banker’s style is intellectual in theme yet visceral in execution, resulting in complex and utterly ravishing creations. An extension of her mind and soul, Ms. Banker’s paintings take hold of the audience with their honesty, beauty and expressiveness
MICHAEL BANKS
MICHAEL BANKS
Mr. Banks’ interest in wildlife painting was sparked by a trip to India. After witnessing the beauty and elegance of three wild tigers, Mr. Banks was encouraged to capture the majesty of the grand animals and use his art as a means of wildlife advocacy. The artist reflects on this pivotal journey to India, saying that the tigers “were works of art, self-contained and needing nothing.” This sentiment is reflected in Mr. Banks’ minimalist compositions. The artist’s paintings possess a simplicity and flatness that borrows from the tradition of Japanese printmaking. The splendid beasts take center stage, inhabiting stylized landscapes that highlight Mr. Banks’ beloved subject matter. The artist captures many aspects of animal life, including hunting, fighting, and herd life. Whether they are portrayed reclining on a rocky outcropping or caught in the fire of the hunt, Mr. Banks’ subjects are always represented with spirit and emotion. The artist masterfully conveys a glimmer of protectiveness in a tiger’s eye as she nudges her cub and skillfully encapsulates the tension of a skirmish through a zebra’s expressive jaw line. These poignant moments give Mr. Banks’ animal subjects a decidedly human quality, forming an indelible connection between man and beast. Mr. Banks has said that he hopes his “paintings will encourage others to wake up and help save these premier sentient beings and other endangered animals.” The artist’s soulful paintings are a wonderful way to draw attention to his cause and shed light on the mysterious creatures that share our magnificent world.
AASE-HILDE BREKKE
AASE-HILDE BREKKE
Ms. Brekke’s “Soft Poetry” series beautifully depicts the Scandinavian countryside with a dynamic energy reminiscent of the sublime landscapes of 19th century painter Joseph Turner. The minimalist backgrounds of white snow and pale blue sky offer the photographer the perfect opportunity to experiment with light and form. In several of the photographs, the radiant sun explodes from the serene setting, shocking the viewer with its intensity. Snowflakes whip across the camera lens, casting a dreamy haze over the image that both energizes the composition and relaxes the viewer. Scattered rows of trees stand witness, unabashedly displaying their bare branches to the viewer. The vulnerability of their exposed shapes appeals to the audience in an incredibly human way. This sentiment signals the greater spiritual quality of Ms. Brekke’s work. The photographer’s skillful representation of her environment reminds us of the magnitude of nature and our own helplessness amongst the larger forces in the world while also intimating the power and strength of community as we all face the shared struggles of human existence.
CORA CRONEMEYER
CORA CRONEMEYER
Ms. Cronemeyer’s fantastical work demonstrates a masterful blend of Pop Art and Surrealist influences. The artist’s flattened picture planes, uninterrupted fields of bright color, and crisp imagery recall the graphic paintings of Frank Stella and the playfulness of Warhol’s flower series. Meanwhile, her frequent use of biomorphic forms and surrealist settings brings to mind the innovative compositions of Paul Klee and Joan Miro. Despite this diverse set of artistic antecedents, Ms. Cronemeyer presents a truly unique oeuvre that is set apart by her signature coloration and unique integration of stylized symbols. Ms. Cronemeyer’s distinctive shades of pink and purple are immediately evident when viewing her striking artwork. The shocking pinks and vivacious lavenders mingle with joyful turquoises and neon greens, infusing each shape with emotion and vitality. The vivid colors offer an interesting contrast to the relatively serious subjects and emotions breached in Ms. Cronemeyer’s paintings. This juxtaposition allows Ms. Cronemeyer to explore topics such as loss, mortality, and relationships with exceptional depth and originality. Her work is incredibly multi-dimensional, providing both a blissful aesthetic retreat and a mysterious world of solemn introspection within the kaleidoscopic surfaces of her magnificent paintings.
LIZ GOLDBERG
LIZ GOLDBERG
Ms. Goldberg’s inventive paintings demonstrate a mastery of line and drawing that is reminiscent of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec’s graphic poster art and evocative of modern fashion illustration. The allusions to Toulouse-Lautrec and his Parisian contemporaries continue in the chaotic carnival-like atmosphere that pervades Ms. Goldberg’s work. This aura of gaiety is primarily achieved through the artist’s bright color palette and dynamic use of pattern. Vivid yellows, tangerine oranges, and opulent reds leap out at the viewer, creating a swirl of color that is heightened by the dancing play of lines that compose the backgrounds and snake across the sumptuous wardrobes of the curious figures. Ms. Goldberg’s striking subjects often have exaggerated features and enlarged heads that recall the shapes of puppetry, augmenting the air of theatricality and mystery. Ms. Goldberg skillfully entreats the viewer to join her enchanting world and apply their own memories and emotions to the novel scenes, giving each work endless possibilities for interpretation.
Amsterdam Whitney Gallery Extends Warm Wishes to Liz Goldberg during the month of her Birthday!
BORIANA KANTCHEVA
BORIANA KANTCHEVA
Ms. Kantcheva’s works have a vibrant and original graphic style. Distinct lines, clear shapes, and bold segments of color illuminate scenes where humanity, the animal kingdom, and a fantasy world interact and are inseparable. Human subjects are consistently displayed with wide eyes and a penetrating gaze, often directed at the viewer or an unidentified object in the distance. This aspect of Ms. Kantcheva’s work opens the door for a strong emotive response, and encourages mystique and curiosity. Ms. Kantcheva’s dynamic color palette presents an interesting range from airy sky blues and seafoam greens to brilliant splashes of golden oranges and cadmium reds that appear like the last flashes of light across the horizon at sunset. By contrasting her fanciful coloration with the drooping, weary postures and uncertain expressions of her figures, Ms. Kantchevka explores surrealist themes and the depths of the human experience. Ms. Kantcheva, exhibiting a mastery of graphic and design skills, produces inventive works that are endlessly enchanting and mystifying.
PAUL KENTZ
PAUL KENTZ
Mr. Kentz’s paintings, although highly realistic, are not exact replications of his photographs; rather he injects his astute eye and wit to illuminate his canvases with a provoking message, which is as he states “sometimes enigmatic, eccentric or humorous.” Reminiscent of Degas, Mr. Kentz often illuminates relaxed moments before a performance, such as several traditionally garbed female Indian dancers waiting to go on stage. Mr. Kentz illustrates his subject matter in a brilliantly naturalistic style, capturing contemplative stares and relaxed, uninhibited gestures. His resplendent color palette of hues such as rich gold, sparkling emerald and bright pink convey to the viewer the joy and captivation with which he approaches his artwork and also pays homage to the rich cultural fabric of the Big Apple. Mr. Kentz offers the spectator a delectable slice of New York with his sumptuous aesthetic souvenirs of his artistic voyages, which transmit an invigorating aura of energy and lead the mind on a wondrous adventure.
SHERRIE RUSS LEVINE
SHERRIE RUSS LEVINE
Ms. Levine’s new series was inspired by a recent trip to Italy. This extraordinary setting is immediately recognizable through the artist’s lush coloration. Rich terracotta reds, earthy umbers, and pale moss greens mingle with the soft blues of the sky and the distant mountain tops, transporting the viewer directly to the narrow streets of a small Italian village or to the verdant fields of the Tuscan countryside. Ms. Levine’s idyllic compositions are void of human forms and references to contemporary life, giving the impression that one has stepped back to a quieter, more bucolic time. The images are so still and peaceful that one can almost hear the rustle of the breeze through the Italian cypress trees and feel the sunshine flooding the square in front of a small church. Ms. Levine masterfully enhances these sensations through her thick paint application, loose brushstrokes, and dazzling proficiency with shadows and highlights. Like her Impressionist predecessors, Ms. Levine builds form out of color and light, using quick flicks of the paintbrush to create movement and texture. The swirling layers of paint draw the viewer into the picture plane, encouraging them to take a mental vacation to the rolling hills of Tuscany and inciting reflection on the beauty of nature and our wonderful world.
BRIAN LISTER
BRIAN LISTER
Mr. Lister’s work affords the art viewer a unique opportunity to peek behind the scenes at grand symphonic performances. The artist carefully constructs his compositions, choosing to position the viewer as a quiet backstage voyeur. By integrating the viewer into the composition, Mr. Lister emphasizes the sensations of the concert. When viewing Mr. Lister’s works it is easy to imagine the heat of the stage lights, the feel of the piano keys, and the flutter of the cellist’s heart as his solo approaches. Most importantly, one can discern the soothing strains of music swelling around the exquisitely executed figures, adding a depth to the picture plane that is distinctive to Mr. Lister’s paintings. The almost photorealistic quality of the paintings enhances this effect. Mr. Lister carefully balances the realism of his work with a dazzling experimentation with light and color. Hot terracotta reds mingle with patterns of vibrant yellow and cool cerulean blue to add dynamism and motion to the pleasing compositions. In his paintings, Mr. Lister seamlessly blends the aural and aesthetic realms, converting majestic events into intimate experiences that appeal to and inspire music and art lovers alike.
ROSAE NOVICHENKO
ROSAE NOVICHENKO
Ms. Novichenko combines crisp stylistic designs with loosely applied paint that fuses into a fantastic melody of texture, color and light. The combination of styles illustrates the different elements in nature in an intriguing abstract manner, resulting in images that appear like close-up views of magnificent flowers, chromatic coral reefs and other dazzling forms. Her style showcases the freedom and refreshing spiritual zest with which she approaches her art. Ms. Novichenko’s thick paint application adds tantalizing texture to her artwork. Her rich jewel-toned color palette, including lucid gold, sumptuous French rose, and fiery crimson, conveys a jubilant aura to her works and celebrates the awesome beauty of nature. Ms. Novichenko’s expressionistic depictions of natural elements, like fiery sunsets and vivacious floral bouquets, augment the natural appearance of the wild by infusing the scenes with opulent color and bold lines – thereby capturing the rapture that a ravishing vista can beget. Ms. Novichenko creates poetic masterpieces that entrance the viewer with her exquisite portrayal of images that have captured the hearts and minds of man throughout the ages.
RUTH PONIARSKI
RUTH PONIARSKI
Ms. Poniarski’s fantastic canvases demonstrate an acute understanding of contemporary life, allowing her work to intimately connect and resonate with the modern viewer. By rooting her subject matter in the familiarity of daily routine, Ms. Poniarski skillfully captures the viewer’s attention, gently coaxing them to open their imagination and accept the more surreal elements of her work, such as a lion lurking at the edge of the picture plane or a horse hovering serenely above a sleeping figure. The artist’s expressionistic brushstrokes and luscious jewel-tone color palette complement the curious scenes that unfold in her paintings, enhancing the dreamlike atmosphere. Light plays prominently in the dazzling compositions, illuminating the sublime landscapes and textural backgrounds as if from within. The overall effect is one of peaceful introspection and aesthetic intrigue that encourages the viewer to both laugh at and appreciate the absurdities of modern life.
PAUL UYEHARA
PAUL UYEHARA
Mr. Uyehara’s non-representational paintings demonstrate a sophistication of color and composition that reveals the artist’s extensive knowledge of artistic tradition. After studying the masters and working in a figurative vein, Mr. Uyehara ultimately relinquished all representational forms, giving way to the dazzling abstraction that now defines his style. By abandoning objective shapes, Mr. Uyehara makes color the most powerful element in his canvases. The rich hues that splash across the artist’s paintings are reminiscent of mid-century abstractionists such as Clyfford Still. Deep ocean blues mingle with lush tropical greens and sultry reds to create a level of action and activity that is unusual for purely abstract work. The large, sweeping brushstrokes seem to extend beyond the boundaries of the picture plane, creating movement that stimulates the viewer’s curiousness and creativity. Free from the restraints of identifiable subject matter, Mr. Uyehara opens his work up to a wealth of interpretations, hinging on the emotional response and personal elucidations of the incredibly auspicious viewer.
