Thursday, August 6th was a beautiful summer day in Chelsea, New York City. The heat wave of the past few weeks had finally broken, and with the slightly cooler air came an influx of guests to Agora Gallery for the opening reception of two exhibitions, Idiosyncratic Expressions and Interpretative Realms.
Artwork by Melissa Arostegui
Although these artists seem to have little in common to the naked eye – being from a variety of different countries, of different ages, and working in varied styles and mediums – there was a shared feeling of pure euphoria among the entire Agora Gallery family. And “the A-team,” (or “the magical part of Agora Gallery”) as Gallery Director Angela Di Bello fondly refers to the gallery staff, could not have been prouder to stand by Angela as she spoke with the artists regarding this incredible next step in their artistic journey.
“Take full advantage of this moment to improve yourself,” Angela encouraged the artists in attendance. “Take everything from this evening and use it to catapult yourself to the next peak in your art career.”
Angela then invited the artists to introduce themselves and to share what propels their creations when she asked the straightforward but often complex question, “What inspires you?”
Vicky Talwar speaks with a visitor about her artwork
Vicky Talwar, whose dreamy abstract floral paintings are reminiscent of her bi-cultural experience, said, “I am inspired by Indian pots and saris, and also the natural world, especially flowers and plants.” While her love for botany came from a childhood in Canada, moving to New Delhi, India, as a young teenager introduced her to a rich cultural heritage, and it is the unexpected juxtaposition of those two inspirations that drove Vicky to create her beautiful collection of work that plays upon the tranquility and perplexity of life.
Tony Stockman seeks inspiration from nature and everyday life.
Tony Stockman, a life-long artist from the U.K, explained that while his paintings cover a range of styles and themes, he is inspired by “nature and everyday life.” An artist working in diverse styles, Tony’s artworks include almost abstract interpretations of water and ice as well as detailed landscapes and portraits, such as his portrait of Marilyn Monroe currently on display.
Sarah Lockett with one of her seascapes
Many artists use nature and other everyday experiences to recreate a world for their viewers. According to Sarah Lockett, “I am inspired by where I live, by the ocean. Movement is everything to me – the way the light, the ocean, the sky change constantly. I want viewers to see this movement in my paintings.” When viewing Sarah’s work one can almost feel her childhood nostalgia from years of spending family holidays on the North Devon Coast.
Artist Jamie Townsend and one of his Cubist-inspired paintings
Other artists, such as Jamie Townsend, commented that their inspiration comes from their overall goals as artists. Jamie said, “I am inspired by Cubism and Expressionism,” but his biggest motivation comes from his audience’s reaction: “I love challenging the eye. I am happy if someone who is having a normal day has a special experience seeing one of my paintings.”
Lisa Torché’s work provides an escape from the physical world
Lisa Torché finds her inspiration in the concept of capturing a moment of beauty and recreating that image for the viewer. She says, “Escapism is supposedly a negative, but when you watch the news, it doesn’t seem so bad. I want viewers of my paintings to escape, to feel peaceful and restored.”
Paola Estrella poses in front of her artworks
Mexican painter Paola Estrella commented on how she is simply enthralled by the figure and sensuality of the human body. She focuses her vision on the principles of freedom and the evolution of thought and said of the opening night, “There are people here from all over the world! I am inspired by humans – the feelings and the spiritual part of it all.”
Two viewers discuss Nico Solis’s painting Untitled 8
Citing Miro and Kandinsky as two artistic influences, Nico Solis describes his work as “classically abstract with pops of figurative elements. It’s abstract, but images come out of abstraction.”
Although he has only been painting for about three years, Nico has been drawing and sketching throughout his entire life, and his unique visual style demonstrates a clear mastery of materials and technique, as well as a firm grasp of art history.
In Nico’s work, abstract shapes take the form of scratches and drips, and lines of color created by scraping paint across the canvas with a piece of wood. Figurative images emerge, such as a small human figure that appears in many of the images as well as t-shirts printed by the artist. In one painting, a robot in the form of a mechanical gear peeks out of bold brushstrokes.
A Miami native, Nico has spent a lot of time in New York over the years, and he says that the Big Apple never stops inspiring him. “There’s something to see on every street corner,” he says. “The street signs, the graffiti – there is so much to look at.”
All of the artists in these exhibitions have incredible stories that come through in their artwork. To learn more about their work and what inspires them, you can read more on our website and view artwork for sale on Art-Mine.
Be sure to check out these special exhibitions through August 20 at Agora Gallery, open Tuesday – Saturday, 11 am – 6 pm. If you won’t be in New York during this time and want to keep up with all things Agora, please check out our Facebook page and subscribe to our mailing list for news and updates.
