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Figuratively Speaking A wide variety of artistic invention greets audiences attending Figuratively Speaking. Classic, expressive, and highly stylized paintings are represented here, in addition wistful sculptures fashioned after the spirit and forms found in nature. A breadth of emotion from its highest peak to deepest realm is explored here and these works will titillate art lovers as they intermingle with this talented grouping.
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Juan A. Lleras
 
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The warmth of Juan A. Lleras, native Bogota, emanates from the vividness and complexity of his paintings. Pure hues are consistent in their vibrancy, regardless of the subject. Mr. Lleras’ early creation of his own mineral-pigmented paint colors established his sense of shade depth and clarity, while the jeweled tones are enhanced by placement and a perfect, restrained use of black and white. His personal goal of acquiring “a unique language of artistic expression through color and light” has definitely been met. Such expert utilization, when added to Juan Lleras' themes, result in mesmerizing and expressive interpretation.
With an early influence by native legends, Mr. Lleras’ work successfully blends a touch of the magical with a cultural perception of South America. He reflects his own perception of reality in dark boxes of forms which possess universal sensations, images, and feelings. A half dozen first place awards, nine art shows, and two permanent exhibitions validate the appeal and artistry of Juan A. Lleras.
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"Colombian Diaspora"
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"Storm"
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Aurora Mazzoldi
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Like every artist I let inspiration grow in me, so I can transmit through my paintings the images which emerge from my subconscious mind from an inexhaustible source of experiences, stories and paths. All of that richness is depicted through objects, faces, expressions, body positions and movements, which describe stories, dreams, hopes, illusions and desires. My ability allows me to accompany those who like my work into the mirror room of my imagination, so they can experience the reflection of lights and fragments of what is coming to life within me. To me painting is not a need, but a pleasure. When a picture expresses what is happening within me, I feel such a great joy, that I desire to share it with other people...
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"Chains"
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"Innocent Maliciousness"
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Georgi Minchev
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Georgi Minchev casts figures and geometric forms in bronze to create striking sculptures that speak to temporality, fragility, and the balance between the two.
Originally from Bulgaria, and the child of a stone mason, Minchev schooled himself in sculpture by looking at the historic works throughout Veliko Tarnovo during the period of totalitarianism in the country. In fact, he believes his origins have a fundamental impact on his work: "I come from the Balkans, a zone dominated by a traditional culture which is tied very closely to its religion and the primordial forces of the natural environment." This experience gave him a sensibility palpable in his work today: "It gave me my first taste of the importance and resilience of sculpture's lasting nature in the face of the temporality of human existence." Minchev's works recall organic forms such as those shaped by currents of wind and water throughout nature and reflect a profound understanding of geometry and equilibrium, both formally and in the natural world.
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"Heliks"
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"Helix 3"
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Fanzia Murphy
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Out of an admiration and respect for the ocean and its therapeutic environs fostered on the tropical shores of her native island of Trinidad, Fanzia Murphy has plumbed her memories to explore the mercurial power and serenity that one can find at the water’s edge. Using vivid colors, graceful brushstrokes, and an attention to the subtle fluctuations of her subject, Fanzia reproduces the wide array of manifestations the ocean can offer—a brilliant yet ominously red sky looms in above the silhouettes of a sleepy fishing village, a deep azure blue rests quietly behind wisps of wind-swept clouds and above a turquoise sea, tufts of early morning fog gradually receding from the land as the ocean laps against rocky shores. These pieces allow the viewer to be transported to a place where tranquility reigns.
Significantly influenced by the French Impressionists, her sensitive eye, soothing palette, and instinctual awareness allow her to compose deftly selective and evocative depictions of places “where serenity and beauty are appreciated.”
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"Giardino Italiano"
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"Hidden Treasure"
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Janet Saryadegar
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Janet Saryadegar has merged an ancient art form with a contemporary one, making subtle mosaics out of collaged imagery. Her subject matter references age old traditions of portraiture and still life, occasionally resembling the sublime moments depicted by masters like Vermeer. Like the original mosaic artists, Saryadegar carefully transitions between colors, giving viewers a heightened sense of shadow, light, and hue. The abstractedness that results from piecing together image fragment adds to the sublime gracefulness of Saryadegar’s work; the images seem as though they are in repose, merging with their surroundings.
Saryadegar, who was born and raised in Tehran, has been influenced by the aesthetic sensitivities of Persian culture. She also acutely understands the role art’s beauty can play as a refuge from traumatic situations, and her own work has all the tenderness of sanctuary. Janet Saryadegar has been an artist for over 25 years. She currently lives and works in El Granada, California.
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"Still Life"
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"Girl in Towel"
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