Art by Mirree from Australia

In the realm of contemporary art, Mirree's work stands out as a true masterpiece. Her artistic style is truly unique, combining various techniques and mediums to create captivating pieces that leave a lasting impact on viewers. Mirree has a remarkable ability to evoke deep emotions through her art, making her highly sought-after by both art collectors and enthusiasts.

This is an interview with artist Mirree from Australia.

How would you describe yourself? And your artwork?

I would describe myself as an introvert that is highly creative and spiritual, although I am friendly and like to be social; I also like my own space. This is important to my work and the documentation of it. I am motivated by having deep meaning in my life that connects me with the natural world around me. I enjoy visiting the city and exotic places around the world because I love to travel and go to places I have not been to before but do not like to stay in the city for long periods of time. I like the peace and tranquillity of nature too much. I thrive on change and challenging myself to go to lengths I have not been to before, I think this keeps me on my toes. Plus it keeps things interesting and exciting because life can be dull sometimes. I long to feel the excitement of life and get bored easily when I am in the mundane world which is when I am not painting bright colours on the canvas, painting brings to light important information, experiences and feelings that need to be highlighted, this brings me immense happiness. I think if there is something in your life that you cannot live without or there is something that brings you out of a state of loneliness, despair or unhappiness that you can overcome on your own and only you, then perhaps you’ve found your calling. But it doesn’t stop there because it takes a lot of courage to follow through with that calling.

What drives you?

Coming from an Aboriginal background from my fathers side, nature has moved me in many different ways since I was a little girl from the landscape scenery from places that I visited, the animals I see and the feelings that swelled up from within me; spiritually connecting me to my Aboriginal roots. I can describe my feelings better when painting and the messages/stories that come with the paintings when I write them down, it’s an expression of this feeling. Also a particular interest in Birds and Sea life animals which are a favourite amongst others. The protection of their habitats for the continual survival of Gods creatures.

What is your definition of art?

Art is a way that you can learn about yourself and the world around you. I don’t think Art should be replicated but interpreted through the lens of the creator or the artist which comes from their own artistic expression. This artistic expression can only be found through years of years of practise which makes up their own signature art style. Art by Mirree www.artworksbymirree.com The reason I say this is because it gives you a time-line of a variety of experiments that you can look back upon about the artist which makes up all the different components and functions of that art piece which then the Artist can decide what needs to be improved upon. Also I believe Art should challenge viewers and move them in an emotional way that in turn expresses something that can stir up a memory or some kind of feeling that is yearning inside of them. You can call yourself an artist if you have this ability to move others with your Art, whether you want to shock people or raise awareness, at the core its always a form of expression that has no defining limits. Defining art doesn’t come down to just 1 thing but many, it is an essential part of our daily lives because it has the power to inspire, challenge and transform peoples hearts and minds which brings purpose and meaning.

Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration mainly comes from nature and music is what motivates me because I use to be a dancer for many years when I was a little girl so I became so use to listening to music to express rhythm and movement. This eventually translated into my Art through the form of painting which I fell in love with when I was 16 years old, after spending a few years studying drawing with mainly pencil and traditional materials such as charcoal. I then moved onto ink pens before discovering painting. I believe that is how my paintings progressively became so detailed, because my pencil or pen then became my brush which I knew I could learn to use in the same way but with a lot more expressive qualities.

How do you deal with artist's block?

I do not get this very often, I find it challenging enough to keep up with myself with all the ideas and inspiration I have that pours into me on a regular basis. I think Artist block comes when you are trying too hard to force an outcome. The best solution for this is stepping outside in nature to interrupt the mind of its thinking, so you can take yourself into a world that releases the pressures of the daily mundane life. We don’t have enough time to do this enough, so this can bring a feeling of calm and ease to your artists block which will release the tension of this force.

Where do you see your art going in ten years?

I see my Art expanding into places which I only feel like I’m beginning to comprehend at this moment in time. I always wanted to reach a worldwide audience of people from all parts of the world but I guess I did not realise how big this was to become. I feel that a world that is connected by the common thread of emotion places us all in a very real and practical experience that we can all have in common with one another. No one is beyond this experience or better for having ignored it; regardless of race, colour or religion. We are all connected in unity consciousness. If my Art continues to reach people and bring awareness of the importance of nature and this unity in another 10 years, then I would feel like we are continuing to build and progress more in our evolution. With a focus on love not hate and peace not war. I still want to keep it simple and not over-complicate things. My interest also remains in large-scaled works and animals related to culture throughout the world, not just in my backyard.

Best exhibition ever participated in…?

The most memorable exhibition was the “The Story of the Creatives” with See Me Gallery in 2013 when my ‘Dreamtime Day Owl’ Art was projected 40 stories high in New York City.

Greatest achievements so far…?

My greatest achievements so far has been to travel the world with my Art and also produce nearly 1000 pieces of Original Art so far in my lifetime and I’m only half way through my life so far. Most of these pieces have been produced in the past 10 years of my life. The most memorable has been to produce my 1st Collection of Original Paintings Called the “Dreamtime Collection” which began in 2012. After all this time, I am only releasing the collection now. The 1st of my larger-scaled Original Paintings. These works formed the foundation to my career and made it what it is today because of so many people worldwide having seen them and recognising their familiar nature or having purchased the products associated with the collection of paintings such as the Dreamtime Colouring Books or Card Deck and other products. 

Art by Mirree

www.artworksbymirree.com

Artist Interview: Natalia Koren Kropf, New York: The unknown is what inspires me and keeps me going.

Natalia Koren Kropf born in St.Petersburg, USSR living in New York City, USA exhibited at the recent Shanghai International Art Fair and was a huge success with the local art buyers.

Natalia is a classically trained, interdisciplinary, award-winning contemporary artist who combines art and science in various studio media. She explores current topics of change in climate and society and the eternal themes of light and movement. She creates art forms that radiate happy vibes, attractive visuals that elevate, and a sense of completeness. Natalia works as a painter, sculptor, and printmaker and experiments with different materials and new combinations of eco-friendly techniques. 

Natalia lives and works in New York City.

Natalia Koren Kropf was selected one of the Top Ten Emerging Artists and featured in WideWalls international publication 2020.

Hopes and Dreams

What is so unique about your artworks?

I am committed to creating work that radiates positive vibes and deep contemplation. My artistic aspiration, rooted in respect for Nature and Human beings, is often expressed in abstract form.  I work in series of interdisciplinary collections that are cohesive to show together.


I love experimenting with materials and mixing the media in 2D and 3D works as I adapt to environmentally clean techniques, utilizing non-toxic materials. I believe in the interconnectedness of all things. In my work, I link the qualities of the natural elements with various cultural symbols and draw visual parallels of these correlations, using organic shapes and interwoven trajectories. I am exploring the dynamic of movement and light - the light reflected on the surfaces of sculpture, and the inner light that works of art emanate, reflecting the artist’s intention.


My process is intuitive and so are my findings. The unknown is what inspires me and keeps me going.

Where do you get your inspiration?

NKK: Observing Nature is my constant inspiration. For years and years, I observed and recorded what I saw around me by painting landscapes and portraits, drawing forms and textures, studying human anatomy, range of movement, and dance. Naturally, during the forming years, I started composing my own versions of the visual dynamic by simplifying motion trajectories into curvatures, obtaining a gradual understanding of the interconnected universe by learning about quantum physics and string theory, through my spiritual practice, poetry, and intuitive sense of oneness. So far my artistic journey has been fueled by curiosity about who I am in this great universal puzzle.

Ancient Whispers

How do you deal with artist's block?

NKK: When I cannot paint, I write poetry.When I cannot write poetry, I paint.

It is really a great formula for me not to get down too much for too long. I understand that artistic process comes in waves and it if important to let your self rest from most amazing projects ( especially the most intense and inspiring ones). To avoid a burnout, I switch my attention to another side of my brain until I need another break, then  go back to painting or very long nature walks. 


Where do you see your art going in ten years?

NKK:   The unknown always inspires me, why define the future? Even if painted the same subject, using one single technique - my work would evolve, because everything is changing around me. I am also changing. Yet, I state  the same - themesless themes, timeless nature. But I do not stay the same. Neither does nature. 

 

Can you tell us what you have going on right now?

 NKK:  Currently I am working on a complex form - a bronze sculpture.

I am very grateful to the Artios Gallery for representing me and for giving me excellent exhibition opportunities, such as Shanghai International Art Fair. Earlier this year I participated in the New York Art Expo 2023, where I was introduced to A&E Fine Art Gallery, who invited me to join them at the Red Dot/Spectrum  Miami Art Fair this December 2023. Meanwhile, I am working on a new body of work in collaboration with Art Plexus Group, an Artios Gallery new Project entitled The Elements. I am very excited – it's right down my alley – stay tuned!

 

Can you tell us what your 'Before I Die' is?

NKK: My motto is to  live my life to the fullest! Which means not to loose a vivid beat of my artistry, deepen my perception and optimize my expression. 

There are so many pathways to travel, virtually and literally. So many places to see and people to meet. I embrace all that  comes my way. I am expanding my horizons as I grow old. 

 What is your life quote/motto?

I came to manifest harmony in life.”  

I always believed that by observing harmony of nature, one can become its part. In my artworks and in my communication I go with the flow and welcome any opportunity.  I try to find peace of mind in the most difficult situations and it proved to be a cure for stress and negativity. There is a silver lining to any situation. You can see it in my painting entitled The Silver Lining, which will be presented at the Red Dot/Spectrum in Miami. 


How do you work?

I work intuitively.

It is really hard to put into words. 

I suppose it is a kind of conscious living in constant vigilance for an inspirational spark. Once that occurs, it is up to my organizational  skills, patience and drive you to make it happen, to manifest my vision in response to the ignited idea. 


What’s integral to the work of an artist?

Continuous learning and listening to the heart are the integral components of being an artist. 

One Spiritual master once answered the question addressed to him: “What makes you a master?” With the words : “The moment one decides that he is a master, he stops being a master”.

The same thing in art. It is a process, and artworks are  the by products of this process. And there is more to that, I am sure. 

 

What could you not do without?

Sunshine and a sense of humor!

Those who take themselves too seriously, become guided by their thoughts and forget that a lot in life comes at unexpected moments. Those who can adapt to any

change with a lightened up mind, with humor, experience joy of the mere surprise itself. We cannot control our environment, but we can learn to live there and even thrive. That’s why the sunshine is so important!


COLLECTIONS

Works in private collections in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic,

Greece, Cyprus, Finland, Russia, Japan, Lesotho, and the United States.


AWARDS

2023 American Fine Art Society: Artistic Merit Award

2023 Art Students League of New York Salons: Honorable Mention for Bronze sculpture

2022 Allied Artists of America: Award for Bronze Sculpture at the Associate Members Online Show

2021 Certificate of Excellence for Painting at the Empirical Abstraction International Show

2020 Selected one of the Top Ten Artists and featured in WideWalls international publication. 

2019 Celia Kaufman Memorial Award For Innovative Ceramic Sculpture

2018 NAWA Certificate of Excellence Award in Photography

2016 Jean M. Leeman Award for Printmaking

2014 Esther C. Gayner Memorial Award for Printmaking


PUBLICATIONS

2023 Allied Artists of America. 110th Annual Catalog. 

2023 Art Business News. New York’s Artios Gallery. ArtExpo New York.

2023 Sanctuary Magazine. Interview with Editor. By Myrna Haskell.

2022 Allied Artists of America. 109th Annual Award Winners Catalog. 

2021 Elysian Magazine. Unique Feature on NAWA by Suzanne Johnson. Atlanta, GA - NYC

2020 Top Ten Artists. “Focus Blue” Feature on WideWalls by Balasz Takasch

2020 National Association of Women Artists Magazine. “Red Carpet feature”, NYC

2018 The High Brow Magazine. “ Celebrate Women” By Sandra Bertrand, NYC

2011 “Together”. Exhibition Catalog. New Century Artists, Chelsea, NYC

2010 The Art Times. “International Women Artists” in Highland Art Center, Beacon, NY


CONTACT NATALIA:

Website url: https://www.korenkropf.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natalia.korenkropf/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliakorenkropf/




Shafaq Ahmad: "The Element of Geometric Shapes coming through Manifests Beauty through Balance and Harmony" Shanghai International Art Fair

The Mysterious Letters, Realm of the Hidden, installation. 

Artist Name: Shafaq Ahmad

Born: Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Live: Texas, United States

Website url: www.shafaqahmad.com 


Shafaq Ahmad was born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. After Ahmad left Pakistan she lived in the United Kingdom, Iran and Denmark before settling down in the United States. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia in 1991 and a Master of Fine Art degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas in 2011. She has travelled around the globe visiting many countries in Asia, Europe and North America. Ahmad worked as an art glass designer from 1995 to 2003 and collaborated with several art glass studios in Czech Republic and Sweden. She also designed art glass for Barovier and Toso Czech Republic till 2003 for 8 years. Her art glass designs are in private collections in many countries. Presently, she works as a multimedia artist. She employs painting, 3D, digital media, print making, mixed media and onsite installations. Ahmad has participated in many solo and over 70 group exhibitions in the USA, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and United Arab Emirates. Her work is a part of permanent collections at the Sharjah Department of Art and Culture in the United Arab Emirates, Museum of Geometric and Madi Art in Dallas, Texas, Mercedes Benz Daimler Financial, Corporate Headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas and other institutions. Ahmad’s work has been published in Dallas Morning News, Art Voices magazine, Studio Visit magazine, Islamic Arts Magazine, Emel magazine, Art Now Pakistan, Dallas Art Review, Star Telegram, Libas Magazine, Valassko, Vlastivedna Revue, VAIA, bont VOOR BINNEN, and Ceramic & Glass, among other publications.

Firmaments Revolve and Merge, oil on linen

SHAFAQ AHMAD, ARTIST STATEMENT

I hope that my art brings a different point of view which most of the audience can relate to visually and spiritually. To most people my work may look very abstract and that is intentional but it is the spirit of the artwork that I hope people will connect as individuals and as a group. Also my work consists of repetitive writing or mark making, and layering which represents meditation of each thing on it’s Creator, in the cosmos. If you observe closely one finds this repetition in everything in the Nature from an atom to humans, animal kingdom, plant life, planets, stars, fractals and so on and so forth. 

The act of creating serves as contemplative process through which I attempt to show the connection of the universal spirit of all living beings. The experience of being embraced by the universal spirit is expressed through luminosity of color and light, movement through gesture, richness through layering of color, and depth through intertwining mark making. The element of geometric shapes coming through manifests beauty through balance and harmony. The calligraphic mark with a sense of forever being repeated represents the infinite consciousness. The movement and the energy of the calligraphic marks show the constant state of flux of each thing. 

The Protector, oil on canvas

How would you describe yourself? And your artwork? 

My art work is inspired by the tradition of mysticism which is based on a belief in one Creator who is the prime source of all creation. I truly believe that I am but a vehicle for the creation of my artwork and do not ascribe any credit to myself. Mostly my paintings are spontaneous and not much planning goes into them. The painting evolves as the canvas start to dictate the progression. At some point I stop and move back from the canvas to look at it from a critical eye to evaluate the progression more formally. In other techniques apart from painting I have to employ more structure and planning for example the composition and layering of the images. The process is  the most important in my work. I also feel that as I grow as a person my artwork evolves too.

Ahmad at the print studio in Dallas

What drives you? 

The love for the Creator and the Creation in all its natural forms. Nature and the Universe itself is a great teacher. All one needs is contemplation and investigation. Actually I learn from everyone and everything around me every day.

What is your definition of art?

Art is an expression of each individual and in a way a portrait of the self, her/his inner struggles, aspirations and relationships. Art is a vehicle to connect to others and cross the boundaries of cultures and  traditions. It is a perfect way to not only relate to people but also learn to be accepting of others and to open a dialog without seeming threatening or intimidating.


I know my artwork is finished when…?

My artwork is finished when I feel that adding or subtracting anything would not enhance the artwork in anyway.

The Witness, oil on canvas

Greatest person you ever met?

The most influential people in my life were my parents.
The brought me up with a good balance of belief system, cultural values, exposure to art and literature, work ethic and taught me how to take life as gracefully as one can and be accepting of others.


Have you ever had a spiritual happening?

 I wouldn’t be who I am without them. 

How do you work?

As an artist I work in my studio for few hours every day or most days. I paint and also work digitally to create artwork. I also employ other media as needed. The aim is to be consistent and work as hard as you can to make the best presentation possible. I prefer to work in in the morning in my studio when I feel most rested and relaxed. I also take mental notes when I am traveling and take photographs as reminders and documentary purposes. 

Apparent and Hidden, oil on canvas

I was born and raised in Pakistan which is primarily an Islamic country with a rich history and culture, including art in all forms and literature. Pakistan is also known for many important mystic figures and their inspiring writings. I grew up with exposure to rich textures, colors, sounds and diverse cultures, different ethnicities, costumes and many languages and dialects. Urdu is the national language of Pakistan. I was introduced to visual arts, music, poetry and literature from an early age and remember sitting with my parents and their friends, including well known artists during intellectual discussions and poetry  sessions.


What’s integral to the work of an artist?

Artists must be true to themselves, and try to use original ideas, thoughts and inspirations. Sincerity is of the utmost importance in what an artist is portraying, for the audience to connect to the spirit of the work. They also must have a good work ethic to consistently produce quality work. The artist must aspire to be the best at what she/he creates.

What work do you most enjoying doing?

I enjoy making art with different techniques and using various media, but I enjoy painting on canvas the most. I also enjoy creating digitally as it allows me to work at a much faster pace. It has helped me in creating installations in a much shorter period of time. 

What themes do you pursue?

In my work process is very important. I use literature, contemplation, observing nature and research the sciences  pertaining to the cosmos especially advancements in astronomy, astrophysics and the relationship between the micro and the macro in our Universe.

 Transparent Veils, mixed media

What’s your favorite art work?

One of my favorite series that I made is Forty Days Forty Nights. In this series I created one image per day for consecutive forty days, working few hours each day. This was a form of meditation inspired by a traditional meditative practice  in my culture where the devotee isolates him/herself for forty days and nights to contemplate and try to connect with the Creator. 

Forty Days Forty Nights, Chillah series of forty images

What jobs have you done other than being an artist?

I owned an art gallery for 10 years after my undergraduate studies and worked as gallery director and curator. I represented many local and international artists in Virginia, USA. I also volunteered as an Art Director and curator for a non profit organization till last year in Dallas, Texas. We organized international exhibitions and symposiums to bring Islamic art to the local communities in cooperation with local museums, Universities and other art organizations. Now I have founded a new organization called Contemporary Islamic Art Forum. My aim is to bring contemporary Islamic art to the local community working with local and international artists and experts. 

What research to you do?

I have a library in my studio where I have books to research and inspire me as an artist, including books on art, mysticism, science and philosophy. I also research the internet for the latest development in the arts, as well as in the field of astronomy and other sciences. During my travels I am always finding new information and inspiration from people, places and nature in general. 

Meet Elena Seroff a Contemporary New York-based Artist : Exhibitor Shanghai International Art Fair.

Elena Seroff is a contemporary New York-based artist who works in abstract painting, drawing, and printmaking. Born in 1975 in the coastal city Kaliningrad (Konigsberg), Elena developed a passion for art at a young age and dedicated herself to honing her craft. She spent her teenage years in Estonia. After finishing high school in Paldiskiy, Elena studied fashion design at LEX University in Tallinn. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Elena returned to her hometown, where she earned a diploma from the Art and Industry College in Decorative Art. In 1996, Elena immigrated to New York, where perspectives on art continued to develop and evolve. In 2010, she participated in the two-year program for figurative drawing at The National Academy and School of Fine Art and Chelsea Classical Studio in New York.

Despite being an impressionist artist, Elena decided to branch out and start creating abstract art. This new direction has allowed her to explore deeper themes and emotions through her work. Elena often incorporates her experiences and feelings in her abstract paintings, adding intimacy and vulnerability to her art. Elena's transition from impressionist to abstract art has been an exciting evolution in her career. It showcases her versatility as an artist and her willingness to take risks to grow and evolve.

Being passionate about art, Elena started Clarus Art Studio in 2015. The same year, she began working as an art director at The Pushkin Society of America. Later, she founded The Pushkin Society Artists Guild for established and emerging artists, where she curated many art and literature events. Elena also serves as Founder and Art Director for Artios Gallery, a curated online gallery that showcases contemporary artists selected for their unique creative vision. In 2021, Elena participated in the group exhibition "Sciarsism" at the Kyiv History Museum, Ukraine. She received The Best Artist in Abstract award during the show and exhibited at the Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA). Currently, Elena lives and works in New York City. 

What is so unique about your artworks? How do you work?

I am an artist whose work spans both impressionist and abstract styles. My unique approach is to capture light and color with my willingness to delve into deeper themes through my abstract work. I am drawn towards the simple, unpretentious, and quotidian in framing my vision of reality. This sensibility can be reflected in my abstract series "Love in Three Colors" and "Adam & Eve Rebirth," which depict emotional connections between people, passions, and expressions of love that provoke a sense of movement as a continuation of life.

Like the Spiral Dynamics Model theory, human creativity has been developed and improved over centuries. I look for rhythm and balance in composition through color and line. Form comes first, and color is a complementary factor. Spontaneity is not for my creative process. First, I create different compositions by sketching using colored pencils and watercolors and modifying or adding color combinations to find the right balance. After I find a suitable design and am satisfied, I start working with the canvas. I prefer to work with oil paint, which allows me to use the glazing technique. Lately, I've been adding a style of Pointillism, enabling me to find the desired transformation to soften from dark to light tones in my art.

What is your background?

I started my journey in art at the age of 14. Raised in a family of military personnel, I changed three schools. As a high school student, I enrolled in an after-school art class. I do not recall the name of my first art teacher. However, I remember my first painting lesson and a still-life setup composition with a Rowan Tree branch in a vase. Having never held a brush and not knowing where to start, the art teacher sat me down in front of the composition and said, "Start painting." Attending an art class was very interesting, and I quickly began to gain the skills of a real artist. A year later, my group and I participated in a regional art competition for talented students, where I received an honor diploma for successful participation.

The passion for art came to me from my maternal grandfather, Valentin. I only knew a little about him since we didn't communicate often. But every time I visited his home, I saw a lot of photographs, canvases, and stretchers lying on the floor. He was an excellent photographer, painter, and a gifted furniture-making craftsman. While his name might not have echoed the grandeur of Serov Valentin Alexandrovich, my grandfather, Serov Valentin Petrovich, carved his path of brilliance in his unique and talented way.

Where do you get your inspiration? What are the main directions in your creative path?

I began my artistic journey with realism, fueled by a deep appreciation for academic art. However, my passion led me away from conventional forms embracing abstract thinking. Delving into Cubism and Abstraction, I realized that these artistic realms align more closely with my philosophy about art. Among the pioneers who inspired me from the early 20th century are Juan Gris, Vasily Kandinsky, Kazimir Malevich, Lyubov Popova, and others.

Human beings are inherently emotionally and physically unstable entities, reflecting life's endless transformation. An excellent example of this transformation is Pablo Picasso, who continuously changed his artistic style throughout his creative evolution. 

Presently, my primary artistic focus is around Suprematism and Geometric Abstraction. I aim to prompt viewers to engage in contemplation and free-thinking, much like the dynamic and ever-changing nature of life and humanity.

What is your life quote/motto?
Never stop. Move forward and make plans. Believe into yourself, and don't be afraid to make mistakes.


Artist Name: Elena Seroff

Born: 1975, Kaliningrad / USSR

Live: New York, NY / USA

Website url: www.elenaseroff.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/elenaseroffart

Instagram: www.instagram.com/elenaseroff


Artist interview with Jonathan Peter Smith

Jonathan Peter Smith is a contemporary abstract-landscape painter who was born in Kent in 1981, currently lives and works as an artist in West Sussex and was tutored by the acclaimed artists Stewart Geddes PRWA and the late Stass Paraskos (1933 - 2014). Jonathan did his post-graduate diploma in Cyprus under Stass Paraskos where he met the great late acclaimed visiting artist Geoffrey Rigden (1943 - 2016). He won the prestigious RSBA (Royal Society of British Artists) Rome Scholarship award in 2004 and sells lots of his his art all over Britain, Europe and Tenerife. Jonathan has exhibited widely, including solo and group shows in London (Lewisham Art House, Free Range and CGP Gallery  by the Lake in Bermondsey Park) and Cyprus.

 

Jonathan makes small, impassioned, relic-like, organic-like and richly layered and richly detailed abstract-landscape paintings which have both an instantaneous effect over you but also need to be looked at for a long time for the paintings to reveal their complexity, depths and profundity.


Jonathan Peter Smith - 'Painting 2 (Isle of Skye, Sudden Change of Weather)', 2004, 78 x 96 inch, mixed media on wood

Jonathan Peter Smith - 'Painting 2 (Isle of Skye, Sudden Change of Weather)', 2004, 78 x 96 inch, mixed media on wood


Statement

Summary
Since 2003, my central passion in my paintings has been to create semi-autonomous abstract feasts for the eyes which are shaped by places (mostly landscape, sometimes interior).

A Sense of Place
Every evocative painting derives from my experience in a place and its associations, which can include its: character, colours, climate, space, structure, forms, textures, human history,  my psychology within it as well as the psychological history which has been lived out within it. Therefore every painting will have its own personality.

Visual Inspiration
I am visually exhilarated by: colours; landscape structures (urban or natural); old weathered rocks or flaking walls with different coloured layers and textures revealed; graffiti; ruins; and natural landscapes which are all evoked in my art.

Places That Have Inspired Me

Different places in Cyprus, London, Rome, Scotland, Sussex, Tenerife, North Wales and my home have all inspired my art.

Physical Description of My Paintings
I want my paintings to look as if they have grown organically having a life of their own and so I use improvisation in the process.

I use a range of effects in a painting, including: collage, drawing, different textures/ techniques: pouring techniques, incised lines, rips, glazed transparencies, pure colour areas next to complex detailed areas, sanded and scrapped areas.

Mostly my paintings are small, and take years to resolve, building and excavating rich histories in them, and the process combines rapid, slow and improvised working with much careful deliberation.


Jonathan Peter Smith - 'Painting 4 (Scottish Highlands, Sudden Sunlit Loch from Bus)', 2004, 36 X 72 inch, mixed media on board

Jonathan Peter Smith - 'Painting 4 (Scottish Highlands, Sudden Sunlit Loch from Bus)', 2004, 36 X 72 inch, mixed media on board


How would you describe yourself? And your artwork? What drives you?

I'm an artist and I have Autism as well a range of mental health issues of which I have always struggled with against all odds. I am driven always by a need to create  new aesthetic abstract realities which display visual and textural feasts and wonders for my eyes that derive from inspired lived experience, which I then share with others. 

My struggles can influence my art but there is always a hope to succeed and survive  the struggles -there is rarely complete tragedy in my work. Although my art may bear the mental scars, art is a way for me to transcend and create  new abstract realities – which have harmony and a peculiar beauty. Even if a painting derives from a dark, chaotic subject, it ends up being balanced/ harmonious and has an aesthetic which excites me, as if I am trying to transcend from that darkness. In this sense, my art is very positive and healing.


Jonathan Peter Smith - 'Sumptuous Globs of Colour, from Nature and Architecture (Lemba, Cyprus)', 2006, 6 x 8 inch, oil on board

Jonathan Peter Smith - 'Sumptuous Globs of Colour, from Nature and Architecture (Lemba, Cyprus)', 2006, 6 x 8 inch, oil on board


What is your definition of art?

I have always passionately believed that abstract painting is a mysterious thing that takes on a life/ reality of its own, creating wondrous aesthetics. Painting is full of paroxical truths: it has long been used for representation of the three-dimensional world or feelings for example, but representation is essentially always transformed into flat abstract images (even a photo does  this). Painting cannot be anything other than what it is: a two-dimensional surface with paint over it. Therefore it creates new harmonious aesthetic abstract realities (even from dark subject matter) which I emphasize  in my art.  Painting is an alchemy – turning the ordinary into something extraordinary!

  

Where do you get your inspiration? 

I'm continuously inspired by what's around me in a place and the whole knowledge and experience within it.

In my home for example, I see continual streams of enticing abstract imagery from colours and textures. Such visual information is used in my Covid-19 home-based paintings for example, which are also shaped by my psychological struggles within it and knowledge of society's current struggles too. I will use the more darker tonal colours I see, created by evening light perhaps - which evokes the inspired subject more.

The history of a place is also important and feeds into the work. I read about the history of the places I visited in North Wales for example, before and during the making of my Wales-based paintings (still being continued) and I use/ used that historical information in those paintings which have layered and multiple evocations and references to place but in a very abstract way.


Jonathan Peter Smith - 'Abstract Colour Harmony (Winter 2015, Worthing Seafront)’, 2016,  10 x 12 inch, artist acrylic on card

Jonathan Peter Smith - 'Abstract Colour Harmony (Winter 2015, Worthing Seafront)’, 2016, 10 x 12 inch, artist acrylic on card


Can you tell us what you have going on right now?

My work has become even more abstract, complex, expansive, coherent and resolved since 2018,  but always being derived from experiences in places.

I've started a new series of home-based works with new forms and colours, inspired by the imagery and sensations in my home during Covid-19/ lockdown. They evoke themes of great change, mental illness, destruction, disorientation, fragility, but also hope and transcendence. These paintings create a unique sense of place in time, but are essentially abstract entities that still have a strange aesthetic and transcendence.

There is a Rome- based series which evokes Rome's intense summer, its urbanism, spirituality, bright colours, ancient history, architecture and the old weathered walls around Rome. These paintings are relic-like with weathered surfaces.

The Wales- based series evokes nature, a cooler climate, spacious lush landscapes, 19th C ruins, a scarred 19th C history and a violent ancient historical past of endless battles.

I know my artwork is finished when…?

it is aesthetic to me, has a visual and textural excitement,  is harmoniously or structurally balanced (in terms of the composition, colour and texture) and when deep evocation of the inspired subject and profundity is realised.

Which are your favourite artists?

My very British yet multi-culturally influenced art comes out of the Asian, European and American abstract art traditions; British abstract-landscape tradition stretching back to British Neo Romanticism and Romanticism; the Cubist/post-Cubist tradition which influenced British artists; and Northern European Expressionism.

So I love contemporary and historical artists like Barbara Rae, Gerry Dudgeon, David Mankin, my tutor Stewart Geddes, David Tress, David Hepher, Lanyon, Alexander Mackenzie,  and the other 20th C St. Ives artists, Prunella Clough, Piper, Turner, Gillian Ayres, Gary Wragg, Frank Bowling, Geoffrey Rigden, Scully, Bruce Marden, Jonathan Lasker, John Blackburn, Hodgkin, Art Informel/ Tachisme art, Tapies, Dubuffet, Zao Wou-ki, Kandinsky, Robert Ryman, Agnes Martin, Ad Reinhardt, Twombly, de Kooning, the Gutai painters, Frank Auerbach, Cezanne and love the ancient art from Native America. 


Jonathan Peter Smith - 'Dynamic Traces on Blue Grey Relic (Transformed Landscape, Cwmorthin & North Wales' Scarred History Submerged and Glimpsed)', 2017, 11 x 15 inch, collage and artist acrylic on canvas paper

Jonathan Peter Smith - 'Dynamic Traces on Blue Grey Relic (Transformed Landscape, Cwmorthin & North Wales' Scarred History Submerged and Glimpsed)', 2017, 11 x 15 inch, collage and artist acrylic on canvas paper


What’s your background? 

My background continues into my present art. Themes of history, ruins, archaeology (the surfaces of many of my paintings now have an excavated, weathered look), landscapes marked by humans, urban/ natural landscapes, an enriched post-Cubist sense of a place/ space, abstraction, my psychology, deep concept in a work, research, the practice of drawing and photography, constant observation of the world, rich detail and the imagination had shaped my earliest childhood and teenage experiences as well as early works I did around aged twenty. All these themes continued in my work and are still all present in it now. 

I have always drawn since a small child from imagination but based on historical subjects. Then I did extraordinarily detailed drawings of historical artefacts and other things as a child and teen. I loved visiting ruins like old World War II  pillboxes in deserted landscapes as a child and teen which was also where I enjoyed amateur archaeology.

I continued detailed observational drawings in early life drawing classes. I learnt about research, how to illustrate a deep concept and fell in love with art history on my graphic design and illustration diploma. I did Romantic landscapes of ruins and my first raw psychological self portraits on my painting course. On my fine art degree I did urban and natural landscapes that had an evocative, tangible and enriched, layered sense of place animated by human presence, history, time, sound, movement, a 360 degree sense of forms/masses/space and air, and the attempt to evoke all these sensations.

The sense of the tangible in my art is no longer what I represented but is now the painting itself, but the same enriched sense of place inspires every painting now. I could only use abstract means (like Cezanne, Lanyon and Auerbach)  to evoke those sensations back then and so I found early on that a paradox inherent in painting and drawing was happening: I was becoming more interested by the abstract marks I was making and the image was essentially a new semi-autonomous (abstract) reality divorced from the world.


Jonathan Peter Smith – detail of 'Shoreham-by-Sea (Abstract Painting)', 2017, 10 x 12 inch, artist acrylic on card

Jonathan Peter Smith – detail of 'Shoreham-by-Sea (Abstract Painting)', 2017, 10 x 12 inch, artist acrylic on card


What memorable responses have you had to your work? 

A man who was into more traditional representational painting once saw my 'Painting 2 (Isle of Skye, Sudden Change of Weather)' and said to me, “Your work isn't to my liking but I can see and appreciate the quality in it.”

In 2006 when I was in Cyprus at the Cyprus College of Art, the late great acclaimed artist Geoffrey Rigden visited the studios, saw my abstract-landscape Cyprus Paintings  and after looking at them he said, “Clement Greenberg would have lapped these up!”

All images and answered text copyrighted © 2020 Jonathan Peter Smith. All rights reserved.


Artist interview with Ga Sujeng

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Ga Sujeng

Place of birth & current location:

Republic of Korea


Instagram: @gasujeng


About the artist:
Ga Sujeng is an artist, currently living and working in South Korea. She is known for painting the portraits of individuals that are familiar to the public, such as movie stars. She aims to communicate with audiences through her artworks and her own artistic language, which is “colour”. Ga Sujeng's works are extremely intense in terms of colour and texture and considered as very distinctive.

About the gallery:

JW Fine Art aims to expand the culture and art via many projects and exhibitions. It attempts to promote Korean art through international and cultural exchange, and encourages Korean artists to take a step forward to the real art world. The gallery aims to grow together with the artists by continuously providing a creative environment and inspiration. JW Fine Art will become a new trend in Korean art and will continue to contribute to healthy and world-wide Korean art.


Father and Son, 118.3 × 100.0 (cm), oil on canvas, 2020

Father and Son, 118.3 × 100.0 (cm), oil on canvas, 2020


If you were to be interviewed by the press (TV/Radio) with your artwork – how would you describe your work to stand out from other exhibitors?

I personally think the boundary between traditional art and digital art is getting receded due to the development of digital media. My artwork still showcases unique characteristics of oil painting. Every time I work on my art I try to demonstrate and emphasise every uniqueness that the oil painting possesses. Painting colour and matière is my major interest.


Man in pink jacket 3, 103.0 × 68.0 (cm), oil on canvas, 2018

Man in pink jacket 3, 103.0 × 68.0 (cm), oil on canvas, 2018


Where do you get your inspiration?

- I watch a lot of movies. Movies inspire me in so many ways. I really enjoy encountering new characters in the movies and observing their characteristics.

Which are your favourite artists?

- David Hockney is certainly my favourite artist! His work is still energetic despite his advanced age; I have the greatest respect for him in that sense. I always promise myself that I will be an artist like him who is not afraid of trying new things and challenges.


Studio image

Studio image


What other hobbies do you have?

- I like dancing. I have enjoyed dancing since elementary school, and I used to be a professional dancer in a dance team when I was in my twenties. I stopped dancing professionally, it was hard to hold down a job and dancing at the same time, but I still love it. I still dance from time to time when I work on my paintings.

What does your work aim to say?

- 'Colour' is an element that inspires so many artists. My work aims to say that when the colour meets the person's facial expression and gesture, it creates such a great energy and I believe in that synergy effect.

Two Men with fedora, 91.0×116.8 (cm), oil on canvas, 2014

Two Men with fedora, 91.0×116.8 (cm), oil on canvas, 2014


What’s your background?

- I was born in Taean in Chungcheong-namdo, in South Korea. It is a small peaceful village close to the ocean.

What’s your strongest memory of your childhood?

- I had a big family, four generations, we lived under one roof, and my house was always crowded every holiday. My grandfather was an architect, therefore many co-workers always came over to my house for the dinner (it was and still is quite a common thing to do in Korea). There were always many people around me; I grew up in a very crowded environment with lots of people. I think maybe this is why I like people. Perhaps, my interest in people started from this childhood memory.

Artist interview with Heru Muhawa

Artist Heru Muhawa and Art Agent Origa Mito.jpg

Heru Muhawa

Website url: http://fineartspirithunter.com/en

Twitter: @SpiritualArt3

Facebook: spiritual.art.sale

Instagram: @spiritualartstudio

Place of birth: Malang, East Java, Indonesia

Current location: Kuta, Bali, Indonesia


Art Agent Origa Mito is a founder of Fine Art Studio Gallery “SPIRIT HUNTER” established in Japan, supervising, and managing all necessary transactions related to the Art life. She provides maximum support for an artist Heru Muhawa as an international artist and his artworks by seeking different opportunities for exhibitions, sponsorship and developing strong relationships with institutions internationally.

 

Fine Art Studio Gallery “SPIRIT HUNTER” presents unique modern exhibitions with live art performances.  Its mission is to introduce new art techniques and materials that have a dimensional effect to expand a vision of Art perception and cultivate meaningful relationships with related parties.  

 

Artist Heru Muhawa is an Indonesian artist living and working in Bali, and it is the spiritual atmosphere of this place that makes up much of his unique work.

He is largely a self-taught painter, though he studied Art painting and sculpture in Majapahit Art Studio Gallery in Malang city of East Java around 26 years ago. At that time, he explored sculpture and traditional art as much as various techniques of drawing with a pencil, painting with watercolors and oil on canvas. Essentially, he paints the images through the feelings and visions received in his meditation practices.

The favorite materials he likes to use are acrylic, oil, natural paints and neon black light paints to create the effect of glow in the dark. The technique of using neon black light paints makes such paintings called psychedelic Art.

He also loves to explore new ideas and create paintings on CDs and other different materials. His disciplined way of living brings up spontaneous ideas to be able to create innovative forms, dimensional patterns, unique shapes, and figures.

As a result, there are collectors of his Art not only from Indonesia but also from different countries.

 


Universe 6

Universe 6


Uniqueness about my artworks is to create a meaningful deep and interesting story in each artwork. Thus, everyone who observes my artworks will expand their imagination and receive new ideas with some spiritual touch from my Art for opening their individual dimensions in perception. Everyone who sees my artworks will receive an individual message or even answers, so their mind will be reborn or changed with a positive healing energy.


Wonderful 89

Wonderful 89


Where do you get your inspiration?

I get my inspiration from everyday experience, feelings, meditations.

 

Where do you see your art going in ten years?

My Art will be more remembered and recognized internationally with new techniques and deeper ideas.

 

Can you tell us what your ‘Before I Die’ is?

Before I die, I always live as an artist.


Fine Art Studio Gallery Spirit Hunter

Fine Art Studio Gallery Spirit Hunter


What is your life quote/motto?

Life is ART!

 

What other hobbies do you have?

My hobby is music: playing a flute.

 

Have you ever had a spiritual happening?

Yes, I have had a spiritual happening after meditation practices. My mind has become enlightened with new perception and creative perspectives. 


Spirit 5

Spirit 5


What does your work aim to say?

 My work aims to share my knowledge, create a positive visual mood to make people happy and be interested to collect my Art.

 

What role does the artist have in society?

The role an artist has in society is to provide entertainment, new ways of thinking, and expand imagination.


Grace 4

Grace 4


Name something you love, and why.

I love Mother Earth because we have a blessing to live here. I love Light because without light everything is nothing. I love Water because it is an essential element in our lives.


Grace 1

Grace 1


What is your dream project?

I would like to introduce my Art with lots of exhibitions around the world.


Wonderful 165

Wonderful 165

Artist interview with Michelle Yap

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Michelle Yap

Place of birth & current location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

https://www.saatchiart.com/michelleyap

Facebook: michelle.yap.144

Instagram: @michelleyap888


Michelle Yap is a Malaysian abstract artist from Kuala Lumpur, who graduated from the University of Arts, London (Central St. Martins, College of Arts). She was born in 1975, raised, and now, currently living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

She is best known for her modern, minimalistic abstract pieces characterized by heavy brush strokes hinted of oriental Chinese calligraphy. Her artworks are inspirational and motivational values depicted through her art from daily life.

Throughout Michelle’s success in establishing a presence as an artist, she has proudly exhibited in numerous shows including The Other Art Fair in New York, and repeatedly in Chicago in 2019. She has also presented in exhibitions across the Asia in China, Singapore and home country, Malaysia. She had also been given the opportunity to showcase her paintings at the Tokyo International Art Fair 2020 which had since been cancelled due to the pandemic.

As of today, one of her biggest achievements has been presenting several pieces to Royalty of Malaysia, including the Sultan of Pahang (King of Malaysia at time of presentation) and 3 other federal ministers with the series she calls ‘A Blessed Nation’


Clean Cut

Clean Cut


Where do you get your inspiration?

I'm inspired by change. The world is moving towards robotics and AI. Those who fail to follow will fall behind.

Best Commissioned artwork ever done was…?

For the King of Malaysia (at the time of presentation). The best commissioned artworks I’ve ever done, titled ‘A Blessed Nation’ was for 3 federal ministers of Malaysia and the Sultan of Pahang (Royalty of Malaysia) in early 2020.

Would love to exhibit my work in …

Tate Modern, London.


Blessed Nation

Blessed Nation


How have you developed your career?

It began with a passion for fine arts, where I completed my university studies in Central St. Martin's, London. My career 2 design firms and releasing an online creative marketplace over the course of 20 years. Throughout the process, I reignited my passion and began painting where my presence in the local artistic community grew through online galleries into the international community which had allowed me to gain more exposure through multiple exhibitions across the globe.

What is your life quote/motto?

Giving up is equals to closing your own doors to opportunities. Only persistence can complete your journey.


Dragon Boat Race

Dragon Boat Race


How have you developed your career?

It began with a passion for fine arts, where I completed my university studies in Central St. Martin's, London. My career 2 design firms and releasing an online creative marketplace over the course of 20 years. Throughout the process, I reignited my passion and began painting where my presence in the local artistic community grew through online galleries into the international community which had allowed me to gain more exposure through multiple exhibitions across the globe.

What is your life quote/motto?

Giving up is equals to closing your own doors to opportunities. Only persistence can complete your journey.


An Aliance

An Aliance


What does your work aim to say?

This series for the Shanghai International Art Fair 2020; My work aims to motivate and bring about change in the viewers’ minds. Portraying the traditional terracotta warrior coming back to life after thousands of years and experiencing the new Era for the first time. He is not familiar with most of the new gadgets or methods. So, he equips himself with knowledge of traditional ways to solve his issues. It is a funny depiction of the new China.  


IMG_5758.jpg

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

You need to let go of everything you have learn before you can find yourself.

Art is an expression, not a skill you learn. It is a collection of thoughts and events that happen in life, which moulds your style and work. It cannot be judge by the eyes only but rather, to simultaneously be felt by your senses.

Artist interview with Mushegh Grigoryan

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Mushegh Grigoryan

Place of birth & current location: Yerevan Armenia

Website url: https://m-grigoryan.com/

Facebook: Mushegh60

Instagram: @musheghart


Professional artist Mushegh Grigoryan was born in Armenia (18/11/1960) and is currently living there.

He is a member of Artists’ Union in Armenia since 1988 and is a member of IAA (International Association of Art UNESCO).

Participated in a number of exhibitions, including Art Expo Barcelona - 2001. Agora Gallery in New York 2019.

Hashad a number of solo exhibitions in Vienna (2002), Paris (2004), Yerevan (1994, 1998, 2008, 2015, 2016), Los Angeles (2016). Since 2019 is represented by Agora Gallery in New York.

 


Mushegh Grigoryan Studio.jpg

I am a professional artist from Armenia. My works are of different genres: portraits, plein air, figurative works, still life, abstract. As an artist, I am an expressionist in my nature. I work primarily with oil and acrylic paint and I prefer to have several unfinished works of different genres at the same time and switch from one to the other.


Flowers, acrylic on canvas,  80 x 100 cm

Flowers, acrylic on canvas,  80 x 100 cm


How would you describe yourself? And your artwork? What drives you?

I am an artist, but I don't smoke and don't drink. My works are expressive and transfer vitality. My creative force is driven by nature and people's energies.


Alley, oil on canvas , 60 x 70 cm

Alley, oil on canvas , 60 x 70 cm


What is your definition of art?

Art is a form of energy which gives vitality.


Yellow, oil on canvas, 75 x 95 cm

Yellow, oil on canvas, 75 x 95 cm


What is your life quote/motto?

God is with us. All will be well.


Autumn, oil on canvas, 50 x 60 cm

Autumn, oil on canvas, 50 x 60 cm


What does your work aim to say?

My work wants to say that the main driving force in life is the heavenly energy that people transfer to each other.


Red, oil on canvas,  85 x 95 cm

Red, oil on canvas, 85 x 95 cm


What is your dream project?

Create a big fresco inside one of the world's largest cities' important buildings.


Spring, oil on canvas, 50 x 60 cm

Spring, oil on canvas, 50 x 60 cm


What role does the artist have in society?

Artist constantly showcases the non material part of the societies life and emphasizes  the importance of it's existence.


Autumn, oil on canvas, 5 0x 60 cm

Autumn, oil on canvas, 5 0x 60 cm

Artist Interview with Tic Ikram

Tic_Ikram_with_Cali_POP.jpg

Tic Ikram 

Place of birth: Salinas, California

Current Location:
Los Angeles, California

Website url: http://tic.gallery

Facebook: @tic.artist

Instagram: @tic.artist


Tammy Ikram (known as Tic) is an American artist that has maintained a studio in the greater Los Angeles area since 2013. Her ensuing work with coastal gallery exhibitions, private collectors, and commissioned projects throughout Orange County and Hollywood, California has made her influential in the Southern California art scene. She has taught art privately in Orange County and London, England. Tic has exhibited in Orange County, Beverly Hills, and the World Trade Center in New York City. She has upcoming art shows in Laguna Beach and Shanghai, China. Her paintings can also be seen on Seasons two and three of Selling Sunset on Netflix. 


YARA | Floralscape I | oil on cotton, 40 in x 60 in (101.6 cm x 152.4 cm), 2019

YARA | Floralscape I | oil on cotton, 40 in x 60 in (101.6 cm x 152.4 cm), 2019


As a contemporary artist with a background tethered in design, Tic Ikram’s work is informed by both disciplines. Her unique narrative encapsulates California living and coastal symbols reimagined as aesthetic objects. Known for exploring iconic shapes and textures, Tic’s reductive artworks respond to the tactility of her environment, whilst constructing its complexity in minimalist form. Her signature approach is recognized by her bold palette selections, smooth gradient transitions, and compositional balance. Her practice speaks to the central concern of the ethical responsibility we have with our surroundings and supplies a commentary on its power and fragility. 


Cali POP | Aqua.Tic Prism No. 02 | oil on wood, 32 in (81.28 cm) diameter, 2020

Cali POP | Aqua.Tic Prism No. 02 | oil on wood, 32 in (81.28 cm) diameter, 2020


What is your artistic outlook on life?

I try to absorb as much information as I can from my surroundings. There is so much beauty around us, it's my desire as an artist to magnify those moments, and share my interpretation of them with others. 

Where do you see your art going in ten years?

I think I'm learning how tune out the noise, and focus on the most essential elements that breathe life into each piece. I want to remain as authentic as possible in both subject and palette selections, but elevate my overall approach. 


Chrysaora Fuscescens | Floralscape VIII | oil on linen, 36 in x 48 in (91.44 cm x 121.92 cm), 2019

Chrysaora Fuscescens | Floralscape VIII | oil on linen, 36 in x 48 in (91.44 cm x 121.92 cm), 2019


How have you developed your career?

I think art as a profession is all about relationships. It's also about understanding the aesthetic of your audience, both curators and collectors. A mentor once told me, “Don't sell car parts at a bread store.”

Finally, its about being truly honest with yourself, I continue to ask myself, “Do I love this?” and make adjustments until it feels authentic. I'm always evolving, and I think my art is a reflection of that. 

Would love to exhibit my work in … 

Art Basel. It has been a dream of mine since the first time I experienced one in 2013. 


Sweet Ride | Aqua.Tic Prism No. 03 | Oil and gouache on cotton, 18 in x 36 in (45.72 cm x 91.44 cm), 2020

Sweet Ride | Aqua.Tic Prism No. 03 | Oil and gouache on cotton, 18 in x 36 in (45.72 cm x 91.44 cm), 2020


One thing no one knows about you, but defines you a lot?

I've always been obsessed with beautifully crafted interiors and elegant architectural lines. I think it's had a tremendous influence on me artistically and it will continue to play a role in my development moving forward. I love contemporary, sophisticated spaces, and the role that art and design play in creating those narratives. 

What themes do you pursue?

My previous Collection, Floralscapes, was built on the concept of a whimsical dreamscape filled with floral structures as its compositional framework. My newest Collection, Oscillations, is focused on reconstructing iconic shapes and textures into minimalist form. Although the compositions have simplified, the themes of nature and coastal living have remained. 


Cotton Candy | Floralscape IV | oil on linen, 18 in x 24 in (45.72 cm x 60.96 cm), 2019

Cotton Candy | Floralscape IV | oil on linen, 18 in x 24 in (45.72 cm x 60.96 cm), 2019


What’s your favourite art work? 

Artistically, I am most impressed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini's sculpture, The Rape of Persephone. It's unfathomable the way he was able to the manipulate marble to capture the supple touch of skin. 

Poetically, I love the timeless beauty that is Le Violon d'Ingres by Man Ray (1924). There's something so seductive and mysterious about it that always lures me in.

Personally, there is a single moment in the top right quadrant of Chrysaora Fuscescens // Floralscape VIII/ 2019 that I believe to be my most satisfying blending application to date.


Tic Ikram in Studio (WIP: Depths | Fluid Structure No. 01, oil on cotton, 48 in x 72 in (121.92 cm x 182.88 cm), 2020

Tic Ikram in Studio (WIP: Depths | Fluid Structure No. 01, oil on cotton, 48 in x 72 in (121.92 cm x 182.88 cm), 2020


What makes you angry?

I think I speak for all artists when I say rogue paintbrush hair stuck on a surface perfectly applied with wet paint ;)