Part 2: Beginning Study Guide: Park West Gallery - Contemporary Artists

PARK WEST GALLERY | CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS
PART 2: BEGINNING STUDY GUIDE

ARTIST INFORMATION
Yaacov Agam (1928 - )

Agam is considered by some to be the One of the founders of Kinetic Art, which is art that
incorporates movement as part of the design. Agam invites the viewer to come close, touch,
move, and participate actively with the art. This interaction allows the viewer to fully
appreciate the aesthetics of the art and the changing experience it provides in the 4th
dimension: Time.
Agam created the Agamograph, his own medium, which is multiple series of images viewed
through a lenticular lens, creating change at every angle.
Agam was selected to hold a one-man retrospective at the Guggenheim museum in New York
City in 1980.
Agams works are featured in major locations all around the world, including the Villa Regina
tower in Miami, The Agam Fountain in Paris, Fire and Water Fountain in Tel Aviv, Israel,
Reflection and Depth at the Port Authority in New York, Communication X9 on Michigan
Avenue in Chicago, and Communication Night and Day at the AT&T Building in New York.
MAIN POINTS: Kinetic

Art Agamograph
Guggenheim highest
recorded selling price
for Israeli artist at
auction
Agam was commissioned by George Pompidou (president of the French Republic) to create
Elysee Salon. The work of art is an entire room (i.e. salon) within the Pompidou museum in
Paris. It consists of polymorphic and metapolymorphic works which transform as the viewer
moves around within the space. The accuracy of the work is evident in the simple fact that the
floor covering alone took 4 1/2 years to complete.
On December 15, 2010, a painting by Agam sold at auction for $698,000 at Sothebys New
York, the highest price ever paid for the work of an Israeli artist.
Agam has a new museum currently under construction in Israel dedicated to his life and art.
Animation Art
First animation emerged in Paris 1892 at Theatre Optique
1914, Ed Hurd invents process inking drawings onto celluloid and photographing them in
succession on a continuous painted background.
1923 Walt & Roy Disney open first studio and create 1st animation to synchronize movement
and sound Snow White & the seven dwarfs
Park West has one of the largest and most comprehensive animation collections in the world
and animation legends such as Thomas & Charles McKimson, Chuck Jones, Peter Fernandez
(Speed Racer) & Iwao Takamoto (Scooby-Doo) made personal appearances at Park West
Gallery.
Park West offers Garfield meets Rockwell series hand-signed by Jim Davis as well as handsigned works by Hanna & Barbera who created such titans as Tom & Jerry, The Flintstones,
The Jetsons, Johnny Quest, Yogi Bear, and Huckleberry Hound to name a few.
In fact, Tom & Jerry won 7 Academy Awards, while the Flintstones became the finest half-hour
animated sit-com and even won a Golden Globe Award.
Emile Bellet (1941 - )

Bellet paints women with no faces, representing the universal woman encompassing beauty
and femininity. Bellet is a self-taught artist, beginning painting at age 5, winning his first art
prize at 12, and holding his first exhibition at age 19. His style is represents the colors of the
great Fauves and elongated forms of the Mannerists that give his work a timeless appeal.
Bellet excels at lithography, creating lithographs at the same studio and with the same team
as Marcel Mouly.
Bellet completed stained glass windows of the church Notre Dame de Bon Voyage (Our Lady
of Happy Travels) in 1978 in Port de Bouc, France, which stands as a beautiful display of his
talent. He has also held numerous exhibits in France, Switzerland, Senegal, and Japan, and
enjoys permanent exhibitions in his home country, France. Patrice de la Perriere, Director of
the Art Revue, Univers des Arts (Universe of the Arts) says: Bellets women never cease to
draw you into a dreamlike world. Their presence undeniably brings a real emotion to the
viewer.
Bellet paints with a palette knife, which is a difficult technique to master. He also paints en
plein air as the Impressionists did, choosing to paint scenery from his native France. By
painting outdoors, Bellet feels like he is bringing a small piece of Van Gogh to our time.
Andrew Bone (1957- )

Bone worked as a conservationist and wildlife guide before becoming an artist. He is fully
educated in the nature of the animals he paints and captures his immense respect and awe for
the animals of Africa, as well as their natural beauty and majesty. As such, he is a self-taught
artist who has perfected his skills in his almost reverent desire to depict the animals he
respects so much.
Bone is recognized for the detail and photo-realism in his works, which are a result of his real
life experiences with wildlife animals. The landscape in his work is completely authentic to the
species he is painting and just as important from a conservation standpoint.
Bone has not been without his share of close calls, from near-misses with powerful lions to
charging elephants. Bone has said, Dont paint it unless youve studied it, been chased by it,
or done something to save it.
Romero Britto (1963 - )

Britto was commissioned by Absolut Vodka to design their 25th Anniversary commemorative
bottle. This incredible opportunity catapulted Britto into the limelight alongside artists like Andy
Warhol and Keith Haring. Numerous commissions followed: Gran Marnier, Pepsi, Apple, IBM,
Disney, La Guardia Airport, a United Nations postage stamp series, Britto Mini Cooper for BMW,
and BankAtlantic. Britto was commissioned by the NFL to create the Super Bowl XLI pre-show in
2007. In collaboration with Cirque du Soleil, the entire Dolphin stadium in Miami was turned
into a giant Britto canvas.
Brittos art is shown in more than 140 galleries nationwide. Collectors of Brittos work include
Michael Jordan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Andre Agassi, the Guggenheims, the Rothchilds, the
Kennedys, and former Whitney Museum President William Woodside. Britto has also been
exhibited at the Louvre twice. The New York Times says that Brittos fusion of Pop Art and
Cubism, sometimes referred to as Neo-Pop-Cubism, Exudes warmth, optimism and love.
Brittos 3-Dimensional artworks are available exclusively through Park West Gallery.
Simon Bull (1958 - )

Bulls artistic career began at the age of 18 with his first one-man exhibition in Hong Kong.
Since then he has had numerous exhibitions throughout the world, including a one-man show
at Harrods in London, where 76 of his paintings were exhibited.
Bulls accolades are numerous. In 2002, Bull (along with Thomas Kinkade and Howard
Behrens) was selected as an official artist of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Their
commemorative artworks were unveiled at an event in New York City by Donald Trump. In
2000 he was the first to win the Fine Art Trade Guild award for the top selling original print
artist in Great Britain and was short-listed twice for the best-selling published artist award. In
2007, He was commissioned by the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville Kentucky to paint a
series of portraits of the legendary boxer. Park West has donated numerous mixed media
paintings of Ali by Simon Bull to the center, which remain in their permanent collection. These
same works have other variations signed by Muhammad Ali and Simon Bull, which are
available through Park West exclusively. In 2009, Muhammad Ali himself later commissioned
Bull to paint joint portraits of himself and Barack Obama, which were unveiled on the eve of
Obamas inauguration as Alis gift to the new President.
Bull has said, If I can touch a life if through my painting I can show something previously
unseen, if I can reveal something old in a new way, if I can enrich a soul on its journey into the
eternal then my painting my living has not been in vain.
Alexander Chen (1952 - )

Chen is an internationally acclaimed artist whose reputation for creating captivating city
scenes, enchanting landscapes, and famous landmarks is greatly admired.
Chen is an official Artist for the US Olympic Team and has created originals for both the
Olympics in Beijing in 2008 and again in Vancouver in 2010. Other commissions include:
Unicef, Toshiba, and Northwest Airlines.
His work amplifies human visual perception. His paintings sometimes reveal a broader
perspective than is humanly possible, with an extreme level of detail that often takes months
of painting to create. This is what produces the wonderment and hyper-realism when
looking at his work Chen wants to share with the viewer a side of life in all these exotic
locations that is playful, unique and inviting.
Hua Chen (1952 - )

Chen is recognized for capturing the timeless beauty of music and the female form through his
ethereal, impressionistic style.
Chen was selected as one of the artists of the U.S. Olympic Team and created a work of art for
the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Chen has had one-man shows around the world, and his work is in
the permanent collection of the National Art Museum of China.
Chen grew up during the Cultural Revolution in China when western art was prohibited. His
father used to sneak in books on western art, and as a result, Chen was exposed and influenced
by impressionists and post-impressionists including Degas, Renoir, Lautrec and Manet. It is
extraordinary and historical that a Chinese artist from the communist system paints
Impressionism.
Autumn de Forest (2001 - )

Since creating her first work of art at the age of 5, Autumn has been called everything from
artistic genius to child prodigy by The Discovery Channel, Huffington Post and Forbes.
Inspired by the likes of Andy Warhol, Georgia OKeeffe, Pablo Picasso, Grant Wood, Jackson
Pollock, and Henri Matisse, Autumns works of art have strong conceptual messages and vivid
imagery.
At the age of 8 Autumns works were shown for the first time at auction, where a collection of
her works sold for over $100,000. Today only 14 years old Autumn is as passionate about
creativity and art as she is about philanthropy. She has created a number of works to benefit
charitable and humanitarian causes, most prominently for relief efforts in Japan and Haiti.
Chris DeRubeis (1978 - )

The art world is now recognizing DeRubeis as "THE FATHER OF CONCEPTUAL MOVEMENT."
Throughout history, there have been only a select few artists who have changed the way we
view art. Since the creation of isms (Impressionism, Pointillism, Fauvism, Expressionism,
Cubism, Surrealism), most artists have copied or cloned these styles by simply adding their
own spin. The resulting lack of innovation is the current product of many art schools. Then
along came Chris DeRubeis. DeRubeis began experimenting with different tools to
manipulate the way light reacted with the surface. He introduced chemicals and paints to the
surface creating unique reactions and bringing his art to life.Abstract Sensualism was born!
Born in 1978, DeRubeis showed an early proclivity for drawing, which was quickly recognized
by his family. At age 11, Chriss grandfather gave him his first airbrush, and after watching him
use it, proclaimed he would be the artist his grandfather had always dreamed of becoming.
In 2005 DeRubeis work was submitted and honored with two nominations by the First Annual
Fine Art Awards televised live from the MGM Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Nominated in
the Mixed Media and New Movement categories, he earned the MUSE Award in New
Movement and is now known as The Father of the Conceptual Movement.
Duav (1952 - )
Duav is a French-born artist who began his painting career at the tender age of 3. He
completed his first oil painting by the age of 9.
Duavs father bought him a cello, hoping he would not pursue a career as an artist. However,
Duav chose to be classically educated in both art and music.
Duav met Salvador Dali when he was 25, who was a great inspiration to him throughout his
life, constantly reminding him to blend his passion for the arts, transitioning his music
throughout his painting and throughout his life.
Duavs works are uplifting, cheerful, bright, and colorful. He uses cans of paint rather than
tubes, working with various palette knives, tiny brushes, and his fingers to create texture and
richly blended colors.
His inspiration comes from his travels and his favorite classic artsits: Monet, Cezanne, and
Vermeer.
For the 50th Anniversary of the Cannes Film Festival, Duav painted the sides of two buses.
Duav was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Star of Europe by the Prince of
Denmark for his efforts to assist contemporary artists and his country.

Erte (Romaine de Tirtoff) (1892-1990)
Erte is most famous for his elegant fashion designs which capture the art deco period in which
he worked. His delicate figures and sophisticated, glamorous designs are instantly
recognizable, and his ideas and art still influence fashion into the 21st century.
Erte designed 250 covers for Harpers Bazaar, and his illustrations also appeared in Illustrated
London News, Cosmopolitan, and Vogue. He created innumerable drawings for these
magazines, fashion designs for some of the worlds most glamorous women, costumes and set
designs for Hollywood movies, and a variety of product designs.
Ertes work can be found in the collections of several well-known museums including the
Victoria and Albert Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a sizable collection of
work by Erte can be found at Museum 1999 in Tokyo.
Marcus Glenn (1968 - )

A native of Detroit, Glenn is known for his use of bright colors and his expressive use of papers
and fabrics, creating a masterful textured collage effect. He has created a unique form of
combining painting with sculpture to form a bas-relief. He calls this style Flat Life and has
been developing the idea for more than a decade.
Prior to becoming recognized for his artwork, Glenn worked on an assembly line for Chrysler
during the day and developed his art style at night. Glenn became the first African American
and the youngest cartoonist in the Detroit News. As a freelance cartoonist his daily comic strip
Double Trouble ran for four years.
One of Glenns works is in the permanent collection at the Charles H. Wright Museum of
African American History in Detroit, Michigan, an honor typically reserved for much older
artists.
Glenn was selected to create official artwork for the 56th Annual Grammy awards in 2014
an honor previously held by noted artists such as Peter Max, Frank Gehry, and Shepard Fairey.
Alfred Gockel (1952 - )

Gockel has sold over 100,000,000 posters and open edition works. Gockel was commissioned
by the U.S. Olympic committee to create an official work of art for the 2006 Olympics in Turin,
Italy.
From his humble beginnings, Gockel has become one of the most prolific distributors of
modern art lithographs and serigraphs in the world. With expressive use of rich, primary colors,
Gockel has created an exceptional style that is undeniably unique.
Gockel is known as an ambidextrous action painter as he paints with both hands
simultaneously.
As a young artist, Gockel met Salvador Dali and told him he wanted to be an artist and asked
him what he needed to do. Dali told him, you must work very hard, you must study the
masters, but not copy them you must find your own voice and identity. His influences
are apparent as Dali, Mir, Picasso, and Kandinsky, but his work is instantly recognizable as
Gockel.
Michael Godard (1958- )

Regarded as the rock star of the art world, Michael Godards world of art invites us into his
lighthearted perspective of life, surrounding us with animated olives, grapes and dancing
strawberries. His unique imagery is an exciting combination of imagination and subtle humor
which evoke the creative side in olive us. He has taken art as we know it and given it a new
definition and, of course, a punch line.
Godards imaginative world of art is seen by millions of people each month, worldwide through
cruise lines, galleries, hotels, television, and magazines. His paintings even adorn the walls of
the Officers Lounge in the Pentagon. Because of Godards success, he has been featured in
Inked, A&Es Criss Angels Mind Freak, HBOs Cat House, American Casino, and many
other television shows. A documentary on Godards life won several awards and was aired at
multiple independent film festivals.
Godard has dedicated himself to philanthropic causes through his art. The funds I help raise
save lives and at the end of the day, its the most important thing I do, declares the artist.
Godard works closely with The Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program, St. Judes MakeA-Wish Foundation and the Nevada Cancer Institute.
Godard says, The world is small, you can truly make an impact on everyone you meet.
Maya Green (1957- )

Born 1957, Ukraine, Maya immigrated to Israel, Tiberias on the banks of the Sea of Galilee
which is the subject of many paintings in 1996. Maya uses a palette knife to employ the
impasto technique to emphasize the contrast between light, shadow, balance, movement &
tone. Maya says: I enjoy capturing the essence of the moment. Maya is currently in private
collections in Russia, Israel, Scotland, Japan & America.
Patrick Guyton (1964 - )

Guytons ability to design with sophisticated detail brings drama and poetic expression into his
work. With his unique vision, he merges mood and atmosphere, evoking powerful emotions
that create harmony.
Guyton, an artist of vision and sophistication, has developed his own unique style of imagery
using the substrate of Japanese leafing as part of his medium.
Combined with the Flemish Masters practice of glazing, he has created moments in time that
many of us miss. Building layer upon layer of paint, supported by the light bending brilliance
of leafing, and the use of negative space, he will take you into his changing world of light and
color. Unlike photographers who try to capture a fixed moment, Guyton explores the
moment that micro-second when light and color intersect with the changing perceptions
we know as life.
Guyton designed and painted many background scenes for Chuck Jones, most notable being
the background scene for the Whats Opera, Doc? Limited Edition Animation Cell which was
included in the films induction into the National Film Registry, an honor bestowed on only 100
films to date for being among the most culturally, historically or aesthetically significant films
of our time. becoming the first-ever animation film to be inducted. Guyton was also
commissioned by Looney Tunes/McKimson Productions where he became the background
painter for classic animator Robert McKimsons cell art.
Enjoy your journey through Guytons vision of Moments in Time.

Slava Ilyayev (1970- )
Born 1970 in Baku, Azerbaijan he started studying art in 1991 and continued after immigrating
to Israel in 1995 at the Avni institute of Art & Design. In 1999 partakes in fist exhibition at the
Sculpture Union in Tel Aviv and then at the Safari Gallery in Jerusalem. Slava uses the palette
knife to create heavy texture featuring autumnal colors and the changing of leaves, while
portraying rainbow-colored, tree-lined streets reminiscent of Central Park, NY. Slava also
began teaching in art academies in Israel since 1998. Slava had many group and one-man
exhibitions in Israel, USA, Turkey and Spain.
Scott Jacobs (1958 - )

Jacobs has the honor of being the first ever officially licensed Harley Davidson artist. Besides
Harley-Davidson, he is also the only licensed Chevy artist (Corvette division). Jacobs is also
licensed by the Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley estates. Jacobs is in the collection of Malcolm
Forbes (former Publisher of Forbes magazine).
Depending on the size, each painting takes Jacobs more than 100 hours to complete. Jacobs
uses a brush with a tip the size of a pencil point to create the details that render his work
photo-realistic.
Jacobs is a master of reflective surfaces and light. For this reason, his wine bottles and
motorcycles stand out as sheer masterpieces and stand testament to his popularity.
Mark Kanovich (1970- )

Born 1970 in Tbilisi, Georgia, Mark stages his figures through unique & sharp perspectives,
focusing on dimension, movement and form by fusing sculpture and painting. Heavily
influenced by Chagall, he also tries to invoke a sense of romantic longing. In 1992 he
immigrates to Israel and studies at the Avni Institute in Tel Aviv. He works each day with
other artist and friends including Agam, Najar, Wolfson and until his passing in 2012, Tarkay
with whom Mark was very close, and who mentored him and supported his career.
His work has been shown at various museums and galleries, including the History Museum in
Tbilisi (1991); Kikar gallery in Jaffa (1994, 1997); The Art Center in Rishon Le-Zion (1995);
Danon Gallery in Tel-Aviv (2000); Jerusalem Theater in Jerusalem (2002); Ribaks House
Museum in Bat-Jam (2003); and the Bible Museum in Tel-Aviv (2005)
Thomas Kinkade (1958 2012)

Kinkade is the most widely collected artist in the United States and is known as the The Painter
of Light. He uses techniques of the late 19th century American painters, known as Luminists.
His paintings radiate light, inviting viewers to bask in the nostalgia of earlier, less stressful
times.
His works are rich with symbolism; some of the most well-known symbols are the lights within
the home and the smoke in the chimneys, which represent the warmth and welcoming of
family.
His devotion to his family is shown in his work with love notes by hiding the letter N in all
his paintings as a tribute to his childhood sweetheart and wife Nanette.
Kinkade created the DNA matrix signature concept.
Anatole Krasnyansky (1930 - )

Krasnyansky has two different styles: traditional cityscapes and a more abstract style with
masks, musical themes, and vivid colors.
The traditional cityscapes are influenced by his previous career as an architect in the U.S.S.R.
His life and experiences living in U.S. has inspired his newer style. The masks featured in
Krasnyanskys artworks represent masks for the different facets of our lives. He has said, Do
you think that our holiday mask looks the same as the mask that we wear to work?
Krasnyansky believes that the only time we remove all our masks is when were completely
alone.
As an architect, he once worked as the set designer for a rock video for the rock band Kiss.
Many of Krasnyanskys one-of-a-kind watercolor paintings are painted on a Japanese rice
paper that he specially prepares to create a unique textural surface. Krasnyansky is one of the
first artists to elevate the watercolor medium to the expressive possibilities usually associated
with oil painting.
Krasnyansky has said, Art without meaning is just decoration.
Linda Le Kinff (1949 - )

Le Kinffs influences include the sensuality of Braque, the masterful drawing of Matisse, and
the elegance of Modigliani
Le Kinffs works are elegant in their simplicity and invite the viewer into a world that is free of
all the modern day fuss and stress. Her figures are at peace, absorbed in a world that is full of
lifes fruitfulness. Her work cant be placed in any kind of category; it is beyond style or trend.
It is perpetually contemporary.
Le Kinffs works were formerly published by Christies of London, the art publishing division of
Christies London.
Le Kinff was the official artist for the World Cup in 1998 (an honor now shared with Peter Max
and Romero Britto). As a result of being chosen, the French government minted a
commemorative medallion of one of her works in her honor, marking the first time a living
artist has received this honor.
Le Kinff was also the official artist for the Kentucky Derby in 2010.
Fanch Ledan (1949 - )

Fanch often pays homage to his favorite artists by inserting their works into his
Interiorscapes. Artists featured include Picasso, Matisse, Tarkay, Max, Le Kinff, and others.
Since 1973, Fanch has had more than fifty one-person shows including exhibitions at ChampsElysees in Paris and the Pantechnicon Gallery in San Francisco.
Fanch creates spatial relationships that do not exist in reality walls dont line up, spaces
disappear and reappear in other positions, etc. He changes reality to create his own
imaginary world in which to invite the viewer. Furthermore, Fanch will often create
combinations of locations that cannot exist in reality like a view of the Taj Majal or the
Pyramids of Egypt from an elegant private balcony.
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David Le Batard LEBO (1972 - )

Lebo is a Cuban American artist and the innovator of Postmodern Cartoon Expressionism, a
movement that combines cartoon imagery with richly saturated color and unique linear
composition.
Lebo has numerous commissions, collaborations, and honors including:
Hired by Norwegian Cruise Line to design the hull of their newest ship, the Getaway. (A similar
honor was bestowed upon Peter Max, who designed the hull for the Breakaway)
Lebo and his brother Dan Le Batard (a writer and radio personality) were commissioned by the
Miami Herald to create a series of stories based around Super Bowl XLIV
Commissioned by the committee for the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to
create the artwork for the Latin Grammy Awards in 2003
Sponsored by Ketel One Vodka to create a mural at the Dorrisa Building in Miami
Commissioned by the Boys and Girls Club, Sprite, and Lebron James to create a mural that is
part of Sprite Spark Parks initiative to refurbish playgrounds around the country
Designing 3 custom gas tanks for Harley Davidson
Creating the album cover for pop icon Gloria Estefan
Painting live on ESPN2
He believes that Cartoons are a primordial form of expression that have always combined
images in order to tell stories. We have only to think of rock paintings, hieroglyphics or religious
iconography for our proof. In reality, even when we look at Picassos work after 1905, it all
becomes very hard edged yet organic. The very essence of cartooning.
Although Lebo has many great achievements as well as murals on the street and exhibitions in
select galleries, Park West is first entity to represent him this provides clients with an
excellent collecting opportunity.
Charles Lee (1948 - )

Lees works can be classified into two distinct styles his more traditional works often feature
women, musical themes and a romantic tone, while his contemporary works are often bright
with bold and vivid colors.
Lee has a penchant for a bright and eye-catching palette (including gold foil) that demonstrates
his keen sense of color; yet in spite of such vibrant imagery he presents his subjects in a calm
reflective and almost ethereal way.
Lee has always been passionate about music. It is the inspiration behind many of his musically
themed art works today. During his younger years, Lee was the lead singer of his own band.
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Nano Lopez (1955 - )

His Nanimals engage viewers of all ages and reflect a sense of playfulness, intense creativity,
and wonder. The combination of Nanos classical training, experimentation with materials, and
extensive experience, has led to the production of avant-garde art, which combines aesthetic
considerations and rich textural surfaces. Nanos work invites us to experience a range of
emotions from joy to creativity to introspection to wonder.
Nanos bronze sculptures are created using the Lost Wax Process. The unique and timeconsuming patinas are applied by hand to emphasize surface details, patterns and textures.
For a comprehensive view of the process, please see the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy8s1c5NE2M
His artistic talents were evident at an early age; by high school he could create serious replicas
of the great Masters including Michelangelos sculptures. Nano studied at The Rembrandt
Academy and National University in Bogota, Spain. Here he also worked for sculptor Francisco
Baron, working with marble, granite, and steel. In Madrid he first began working with bronze,
and he held his first one man show. Several years later he worked and showed his sculptures
across France and attended the Superior National School of Beaux Art in Paris.
Bernard Loudin (1938 - )

Loudins works depict poetically dream-like imagery that is incessantly surprising. He
transfigures objects, animals and even vegetables in a way that creates an unexpected but
wonderful harmony.
Loudins accolades are tremendous: his work has been featured in over a dozen books, nine
monographs have been published exclusively on his work, in 2002 a hardcover book was
published about Loudin and his life, and two films have been created featuring the artists art
and life. Although Loudin is influenced by Greco-Roman art, Flemish and Northern
Renascence works, and even Max Ernst, he consciously excludes these influences to explore
his own style.
Martiros Manoukian (1947- )

God gives each of us something at birth. A person doesnt become an artist he is simply born
an artist, and so it began for contemporary artist Martiros Manoukian who was born in a
cradle on Mount Ararat, and climbed to the top of Olympus art in less than half a century.
Once, after skipping school, he reappeared with a painting in hand, explaining that he couldnt
attend school because, Nature grabbed me and seduced me and I had to paint it. That
painting eventually won first prize at his art school in the Soviet Union. His unusually advanced
artistic ability enabled him to enter the Academy of Art in Yerevan in 1967, directly from high
school. He also traveled to and studied at the academies in Moscow and Leningrad and
completed his studies in Yerevan in 1972. Martiros' first exhibit as an adult was in 1972 in
Armenia, in the Young Artists Exhibit sponsored by the Union of Soviet Artists, an exhibit later
seen in Moscow. At an unusually young age of 26 he had the prestigious honor of qualifying to
become a member of the Artists Union (Union of Soviet Artists). He participated in numerous
exhibits under the auspices of the Union during the years 1974-1986 and received many honors
and awards as well.
His colors combine mood and movement key elements of his work. According to Martiros, It
is like a piano player who isnt limited to one or two octaves. Instead, he uses the whole
keyboard. Some works by Martiros reflect something of antiquity in his homeland reflections
of centuries-old icons of Russian Orthodoxy. Others express contemporary images. All, in one
way or another, celebrate love of life and freedom.
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Csaba Markus (1953 - )

Markus distinctive style is like no other, and for this reason he is incomparable to other artists.
His unique style can be described as a contemporary fusion of Renaissance Europe and
Classical Mythology. Markus is a renaissance artist of our time. Today one cannot collect a
Michelangelo, Caravaggio or Botticelli but one can collect works by an artist who has been
inspired by all of these master artists.
He is totally devoted to his craft, controls every aspect of it; makes his own dried pigment,
hand crafts his own frames, creates and pulls his own silk screens, hand embellishes the
artwork with ground glass, platinum, and 24 karat gold.
Markus paints images of women who are not only beautiful, but sophisticated and strong.
Markus says his art is "one whose underlying message is that there isnt asystem of
oppression strong enough to repress the courage and beauty of the impassioned individual."
Markuss painting titled Pure Love was selected as one of the World's 10 most sensual
paintings by Toronto Sun newspaper
Marko Mavrovich (1960 - )

Mavrovich calls upon some of the true styles of the great impressionist masters Monet and
Renoir, although his work is more influenced by the California impressionists. The ability to
own beautiful original impressionist artwork from a contemporary artist is an excellent
opportunity for collectors.
Though he lives in CA, Mavrovich spends much of his time in Europe and particularly his home
country of Croatia which is clearly the inspiration behind many of his Mediterranean themed
artworks today.
Mavrovich is self-taught and turned to painting full time later in life, after studying at a school
for Navigators and spending time as a professional diver. He considers his father, who died
when Marko was a boy, to be his primary influence as an artist.
Igor Medvedev (1931 -2015)

Medvedev is inspired by the light and history of the Mediterranean often traveling and
painting on location. Rapidly disappearing town and villages and the destruction brought on
by new development and tourism signal a loss of dialogue with the past for Medvedev. He has
said he can hear the sound of bulldozing as he paints. Medvedevs his theme is ecology and
his vision is to preserve ancient cities, even if only through the window of his works.
Medvedev finds a natural, organic beauty in boats, and describes their structure as essentially
an inverted Cycladic dome. There is a mystique, a symbology in boats; they carry a long history
in human development. Medvedevs boats seem to take on their own personalities, as their
names often suggest: Meditative, Moody and Beloved
Strong clean forms and dramatic use of light and shadow are the hallmark of his serene style lending serigraphy as the perfect medium for his graphic editions.
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Peter Max (1937 - )

Maxs imagination and vision can be found in over 100 museums and galleries worldwide and
on a variety of canvases, including the Berlin Wall, a Boeing 777 jumbo jet, and most recently
the hull of the 2013 ship, the Norwegian Breakaway.
Maxs one-man retrospective show at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg drew the
largest turnout for any artist in the museums history. Over 14,500 people attended.
Max has been on the cover of Life Magazine and has had numerous national TV appearances
including Johnny Carson and Larry King. Maxs visual impact on the 60s has often been
compared to the influence the Beatles had with their music.
Max has painted portraits of the last six U.S. presidents including a painting of President Barack
Obama, called 44 Obamas (44th president), for a museum installation. He has also painted
portraits of the Dalai Lama and Mikhail Gorbachev.
Max has been designated as the Official Artist for the Grammys, the 25th Anniversary of the
New Orleans Jazz Festival, and the Woodstock Music Festival. For the 20th anniversary of
Woodstock, Max was asked to create the worlds largest rock-and-roll stage for the Moscow
Music Peace Festival.
Max has been the Official Artist for five Super Bowls, The World Cup USA, The U.S. Tennis
Open, The World Series, The Indy 500, and the NHL All-Star Game. Max also re-designed NBCs
peacock logo, seen by millions daily.
Peter Max was born in Germany and raised around the world. In 1938, Maxs family moved to
Shanghai, and he currently resides in Manhattan, where he has lived since 1953. He draws
inspiration from his travels but is lauded as Americas Painter Laureate, and is nothing less
than an iconic American artist.
Max is a proud American and created a series of artworks that were sold specifically to raise
millions of dollars to help repair and restore the Statue of Liberty.
Anatoly Metlan (1964 - )

Metlan was born in the Ukraine to parents who both artists; he grew up with a love of art and
painting.
Metlan began exhibiting his work while in college and quickly gained acclaim; in 1989 he was
accepted into the Artists Guild of the Ukraine. He has participated in group and solo exhibitions
in France, Israel, and throughout the United States and participated in Art Expos in New York,
Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
He enjoys traveling in the summer to Italy and France, which is reflected in the warmth, light,
and bold vibrant colors he captures from the seascapes and villages of their coastal regions
Michael Milkin (1964 - )

Milkin was born in the Ukraine and trained and worked as an Architect. He kept painting
throughout his life, eventually taught fine arts and had his work exhibited in art shows
throughout Ukraine, France, and Germany, before dedicating himself to art.
Milkin concentrates on still life and landscapes, which he paints dramatically with thick,
expressive brushwork and brilliant colors.
As a newer artist to the collection, Milkins oils provide an opportunity to collect a one-of-akind painting at introductory pricing.
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Marcel Mouly (1918-2008)

Having created a unique, trademark style of boldly colored semi-abstract works, Mouly
developed a reputation as one of the most important modernist artists of the late 20th and
early 21st centuries.
Mouly was influenced by Matisse, Braque and Picasso the most. Matisse influenced Mouly in
the Fauvist use of color that is apparent in Moulys unique style. Mouly has been exhibited
alongside Picasso, who clearly influenced Moulys abstract cubistic style.
Park West offers an extraordinary collecting opportunity for Moulys lithographs, as Park West
exclusively published Moulys lithograph editions for the last 10 years of his life.
Moulys work has been exhibited all over the world, including in the permanent collections of
more than 20 museums, such as the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, the Museum of Modern
Art in Japan, the Museum of Modern Art in Helsinki, and Paris Bibliotheque Nationale.
Leroy Nieman (1921 - 2012)

Leroy Neiman is widely considered to be the Worlds first great sports artist.
In an incredible career, he covered almost every pinnacle sporting event of his time. The list
includes: The US Super bowl, The World Series, Epsom Derby, Kentucky Derby, The Russian
Ballet, Monaco Grand Prix, Tour de France, Wimbledon, Both the PGA & Masters Golf
tournaments and several major Winter & Summer Olympic games (including Munich 72).
Beyond sports he has painted all walks of society including Presidents, movie stars, socialites,
jet setters, jockeys, dishwashers and music legends. You can say he captured a complete
panoramic of society.
Decades later, his works now hang in many permanent collections including: The Hermitage
Museum, Smithsonian Museum, Whitney Museum, Brooklyn Museum, National Portrait
Gallery DC and The Wadham Museum, Oxford.
At the time of his death in 2012, he was considered by many to be one of the most loved
American artists of all time.
In his time, he was the chronicler and confidant of Muhammad Ali; he went on adventures
with Frank Sinatra, travelled all through Europe and Africa with his friend Hugh Heffner,
smoked cigars with Castro, had countless escapades with Dali and Warhol (Warhol & Neiman
even had a two man show together in 82), he joked and exchanged quips with President Nixon
and he not only painted Sylvester Stallone but appeared in most of his Rocky films.
He was the ultimate adventurer, the ultimate sports fan, and the ultimate artist.
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David Najar (1962 - )

Najar is an emerging international artist. His works present energetic movements of color and
shapes, describing scenes from nature, his most common subject matter he finds it
simultaneously in perfect harmony, near God, and full of beauty.
He plays with thick impasto and thin airy layers of color; light and shadow; strong strokes and
thin lines to give the viewer a feeling of deep space in his landscapes
Najar spent roughly six years working alongside artist Itzchak Tarkay in Isreal, exchanging ideas
and painting together weekly.
His work is described as Contemporary Expressionism. His work is offered worldwide and
has been shown in group exhibits and one-man shows in Isreal, the United States, and Canada.
Peter Nixon (1956 - )

Nixons imagery deals with the concepts of movement, instantaneous expression and gesture,
romance, music, dance and poetry. He is deeply steeped in art history and is a master
draftsman.
Peter Nixon has the distinction of having influenced both Janet Treby and Gary Benfield, both
world famous artists in their own right. Nixon really is an innovator and his collectors know
they own the artist who has inspired other artists stylistically.
Although many of his peers were painting darker and more somber figures, he realized that it
was much harder to paint something happy like falling in love and he wanted to challenge
himself.
Peter is inspired by studying Leonardo Di Vincis drawings and was inspired to recreate a style
based on his sfumato or smoky composition. He has also traveled to Venice, examining
Titian, Veronese, and Bellini. The dynamism and movement of the human figure is something
he tries to portray as humans dont sit still and hes trying to capture that energy in his work.
He draws inspiration from the Renaissance master paintings, dance, poetry, music, and nature.
Alex Pauker (1974 - )

Pauker is one of the youngest acclaimed contemporary artists to have emerged from Israel
recently. Paukers command over the techniques of painting and serigraphy, are advanced
way beyond his years. For this reason, Pauker is considered one of the most up and coming
artists on the scene today.
Paukers works are greatly inspired by his travels around the world uniting the sense of peace,
natural beauty, and tranquility.
Pauker uses an extraordinary impasto technique and often achieves this by painting with a
palette knife.
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Jean Claude Picot (1933 - )

Picot was greatly influenced by the works of the Fauvist masters such as Matisse. He continues
todays legacy of important French landscape artists. He uses untraditional colors to imbue
his work with a playful, happy feel and often creates scenes of markets, cityscapes, and
festivals.
Picot spends a part of the year in the south of France, and often draws on the Cote dAzur in
his works.
He has been exclusively working as an artist for over 50 years, and has been exhibited in over
fifty one-person shows throughout the world.
Pino (1939-2010)
Born Giuseppe Dangelico in Bari, Italy, Pino was an Italian Impressionist book illustrator and
artist.
Pinos recognizable style frequently connects with the public on a deep level, as his themes
deftly portray the complexities of human relationships. Women were Pinos muse, and his
bright characters practically jump off the page withhis loose, yet accurate brushwork.
While living in Italy, he was commissioned by two of Italys largest publishers for numerous
book illustrations. After seeing more opportunity in New York City, Pino moved his family to
the United States, where his work caught the attention of large American publishers. His
gorgeous, emotional covers helped to sell millions of books. His romance novel covers used a
then unknown Italian mode named Fabio. By the end of his career, Pino had created over
3,000 book covers, movie posters, and magazine illustrations.
Pinos unique works were most often sold through galleries on consignment, and when Pino
passed in 2010, his estate recalled all of his paintings that were not purchased. Thus his unique
works are rather rare today. We are proud to display one Pino drawing at The Henry; it is one
of the only unique Pino works Park West currently owns.
Tomasz Rut (1961 - )

Rut looks for inspiration in the tradition of classical art of such greats as Michangelo; his work
expresses the entire spectrum of human emotions from exhilaration, to contentment, to
melancholy, to pain.
He trained in Art Conservation and worked to restore large scale murals in museums and
mansions, such as the Smithsonian Institute and the U.S. Treasury Department.
Ruts style of aged, cracked canvas mimic the classic style of Italian frescoes and figurative oils.
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Norman Rockwell (1894-1978)

Norman Rockwell is easily one of the most popular and well-known American artists of all time.
Rockwells illustrations were featured on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post for 47 years
this led to immense exposure for the artist as he captivated an audience average of 4 million
viewers. Rockwell is the recipient of the highest American honor a civilian can receive from
the government: the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his vivid and affectionate portraits of
our country.
During his long career, he was commissioned to paint the portraits for Presidents Eisenhower,
Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon.
Park West Gallery, through association with the Norman Rockwell Licensing Company (the
estate of the artist) and Curtis Publishing (owner of the copyrights of the Saturday Evening
Post artwork), has been able in recent years to bring new and exceptional collecting
opportunities for Norman Rockwell artworks to enthusiastic collectors
Wendy Schaefer & Kevin Miles (1960 - , 1956 - )

This talented husband and wife team create lush landscapes inspired by their love of travel
and nature. Both artists collaborte on every single painting they create.
The path that appears in many of their works is a metaphor for the journey we take down the
road of life, while the warm light represents the artists positive faith.
Schaefer-Miles have been exhibited at the Art Expo in New York, The Art Expo in Chicago and
the Art Expo in Las Vegas, among other prestigious art shows, and have won dozens of awards.
Victor Spahn (1949 - )

Spahns energetic style suggests movement and dynamism in the subjects that he portrays,
and they appear to capture the essence of movement in a particular moment.
Spahn paints with a combination of palette knife and brush.
Spahn has participated in many exhibitions, including the Salon of Independent Artists, France
in 1970. He also won first prize in New York for mosaic table.
Zamy Steynovitz (1951-2000)

Some of Zamys works suggest the magic of Chagall and they are brought alive again in
the colors and style of the present generation. His subject-matter is strongly influenced by
religious folklore and stories within the Jewish tradition but his compositions also reflect
his favorite themes, like Paris, flowers, angels, and circuses.
His works have been presented by President Jimmy Carter, Prime Minister Begin, Pope
John Paul II, and the Dalai Lama. He was an ambassador of peace and his works speak
of love, joy, and the sanctity of family life and all creation. He is recognized by the Nobel
institute for Peace in Norway and is acquainted with many Nobel Prize winners.
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Itzchak Tarkay (1935-2012)

Tarkay is considered one of the most influential figurative artists of the early 21st century.
The inspiration for his work lies with French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism,
exemplifying the bright colors of the Fauves such as Matisse and the drawing style of ToulouseLautrec.
All of Tarkay's images strike the same note: a meditative stillness which is lush, sensuous, and
timeless. His oeuvre is a visual poetry dominated by pictures of women who are exceptionally
well-dressed and seated in lavish interiors or terraces.
Tarkay has said,The love for painting runs in my blood. He used his instinct to choose his
colors, often inspired by his surroundings music he has listened to or places he has traveled.
As well as being an acrylic painter and watercolorist, Tarkay was a master graphic artist and
his rich tapestry of form and color was achieved primarily through the use of the serigraph. In
his serigraphs, many colors are laid over one another and used to create texture and
transparency.
In the later years of his life, Tarkay shared his gifts by mentoring younger Israeli artists
including, David Najar, Yuval Wolfson and Mark Kanovich. Tarkay was also the only artist to
collaborate with Israeli master, Yaacov Agam. He and Agam created two paintings which
incorporated both artists imagery in a single painting.
Tarkay received recognition at the International Artexpo in New York in 1986 and 1987, and
three hardcover books have been written on Tarkay and his art.
Daniel Wall (1965- )

Daniel Wall is the founder of Intense Impressionism. This style aims to bring elements of the
19th century art movement into today but update it to reflect the intensity of modern life.
Wall utilizes a palette knife to create big, conspicuous strokes. He uses heavy paints in
intensified colors and exaggerates the effect of light within his images, which include
landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, and florals.
There are several important symbols represented in the works, including: Light (hope), Sky
(freedom, Road (the path of life), Water (emotion) and Umbrella (safeness).
He has studied fine art in China, Italy, and the United States. He has published hundreds of
illustrations in journals and books, has exhibited widely, and won many awards in China,
Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the United States.
His art senses were highly enriched by his experience with different cultures and solidified
through rich work experience as an art instructor, illustrator, art editor, and fine art professor.
Andrew Warden (1949- )

Encouraged by his mother, he developed a talent for drawing at an early age and continued
through primary school. After completing his education, he branched off on his own to study
art and illustration. He creating works of art for magazines, record covers, and
advertisements. Andrews detailed observation of cottages in the nearby villages, animal life,
and the streams and pastures around him has made him renowned throughout Europe. He
delights in the changing seasons that bathe his countryside in a myriad of different colorings.
He observes his subjects at all times of the day to capture them in the soft light of dawn or
the misty glow of evening.
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David Willardson (1943 - )

Willardson is now in the pantheon of the great animation artists of history. Willardson is the
creative force of the pep art movement, an innovative new genre where cultural icons are
rendered with an unprecedented fusion of color, personality, and energy.
Willardson worked for Disney for 17 years. He was one of the few artists that was actually
sought after and approached by Disney. Furthermore, Willardson is one of only a few who are
licensed to use Disney imagery in the world.
Willardson created the logos for Raiders of the Lost Ark and American Graffiti. This is what
attracted Disney to Willardson. Disney commissioned Willardson to redesign their movie
posters and promotional illustrations for the re-release of the classic films in the 1980s.
Willardson created movie posters for Bambi, Pinocchio, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty,
and Lion King.
Yuval Wolfson (1966 - )

Wolfsons style is Abstract Expressionistic he uses vibrating, intense color to represent the
changing seasons and their hues.
He is highly accomplished in the technique of serigraphy, but also works in acrylic painting.
Wolfsons talent was discovered at an early age, and was granted a scholarship from the Tel
Aviv Museum of Art.
His first one-person exhibition, Monets Garden, was received with much acclaim by critics
he created 24 variations of one image, where the colors differed gradually according to the
declining sunlight, hour by hour.
Tim Yanke (1962 - )

A local artist and native to the Detroit metro-area, Tims work is not easily missed: he was
commissioned in 2010 to create the signature work for The Henry, an upscale boutique hotel
in Michigan rated at Michigans #1 hotel in 2013 by U.S. News Best Hotels in the USA. It is his
largest work to date and now permanently resides behind the front desk in the lobby of the
hotel.
Yanke is considered a modern-day Abstract Expressionist artist and is inspired by forefathers
of the movement: de Kooning, Motherwell, and Pollock. Tim has no pre-conception when he
works and develops his imagery spontaneously.
Tim has a passion for Native Americans, the Southwest USA, and rock and roll. He blares music
in his former garage-turned-studio while he works, typically works very quickly with an
incredible array of media, and will frequently incorporate song lyrics or random thoughts into
his works. He focuses on bright color palettes to attract the viewer and impact a pleasing visual
effect to his highly energetic imagery.
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Rembrandt Van Rijn (1606-1669)

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was born in 1606 in Leiden, Holland, close to Amsterdam. He
died at age 63 a relatively long life at the time. In 1623, Rembrandt moved to Amsterdam to
study with Pieter Lastman, one of the most famous artists in Holland. Lastman introduced
Rembrandt to the outstanding style of Caravaggio: power, naturalism and magical depths created
by light and shadow also known as chiaroscuro. Rembrandt made a living teaching art and
through commissioned portraits and paintings for wealthy patrons.
Rembrandts life was wrought with tragedy: Rembrandt married Saskia (daughter of a successful art
dealer); they had 4 children of which only one survived. After 29 years of marriage, Saskia died.
Rembrandt then began a relationship with Hendrickje Stoffels (who was 20 years his junior) who
became his devoted companion until her death. They had two children of which one survived.
Rembrandts first child died six years before Rembrandt passed away.
Rembrandt's penchant for ostentatious living eventually led him to financial ruin. His poor
management of his finances affairs forced him to declare bankruptcy, sell much of his possessions,
and auction off his house. A large portion of his collection of art and antiques was auctioned to pay
his debts. His home was also auctioned and he was forced to move with Titus, Hendrickje and little
Cornelia to a modest cottage outside of Amsterdam.
Rembrandt and his Etchings
Although Rembrandt is most famous for and made a living with his paintings, his true genius is best
portrayed in his mastery of the medium of etching. It has been said that Rembrandt would carry
around a copper plate the way most artists would carry around a sketchbook. Rembrandt is
universally regarded as the greatest etcher who has ever lived, and his etchings are unparalleled in
their technical achievement and their beauty.
In many ways, his etchings are some of his most creative and influential works of art he ever
produced, making them highly desirable to collectors. Whether his subject was a Biblical scene, a
portrait or a landscape of the Dutch countryside, Rembrandt's art reflects his focus on the
interrelationship between God, nature and humanity.
Rembrandt is the master of chiaroscuro, a term that refers to a strong, self-conscious juxtaposition
of light and shade and resulting in a stunning visual effect in a work of art. The technique was initially
pioneered by Leonardo da Vinci, further developed by Caravaggio, and finally perfected by
Rembrandt. Over the course of his career Rembrandt consistently deployed chiaroscuro to produce
some of the most visually arresting and psychologically evocative paintings in the history of art.
Of the roughly 300 plates that Rembrandt created during his lifetime, only 82 are known to survive
today. The rest, it is presumed, have been lost to history, given the intervening centuries of war,
natural disasters, and political and social upheaval. A majority of these copper plates that have
survived are owned by museums throughout the world. Throughout history, various plates were retouched and reprinted by master craftsmen. Releases of impressions from Rembrandts copper
plates are both rare and historic, and any time a collector has this happen in their lifetime it becomes
an extremely historic and exciting opportunity.
Despite the passage of over 300 years since Rembrandt's death in 1669, the genius of Rembrandt's
etchings continues to capture and hold our feelings and imagination. Rembrandt's rich and timeless
masterpieces still confront and communicate to us today, and remind us that no artist in history has
approached Rembrandt's mastery of etching.
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One never really owns a Rembrandt etching. One pays for the privilege of being the caretaker of a
precious object that has been preserved and protected in many cases for centuries, only to pass it on
to future generations.
Millennium Edition
Over a 10 year period, from 1994 to 2003, Emiliano Sorini and Marjorie Van Dyke created limited
editions of 2500 examples of each of 8 images, marking the first time in history that limited edition
Rembrandt works have ever been created. These 8 works are known as The Millennium Edition.
For the first time in almost one hundred years, art collectors have a limited opportunity to own a
collection of eight etchings printed from the original copper plates created by Rembrandt van Rijn
approximately 350 years ago.
Millennium Etching Images:
Bust of a Man Wearing a High Cap; Three-Quarters Right, 1630
The Golf Player, 1654
The Artist's Mother with her Hand on her Chest: Small Bust, 1631
The Card Player, 1641
Landscape with a Cow Drinking, ca. 1650
Christ and the Woman of Samaria among Ruins, 1634
Self Portrait Drawing at a Window, 1648
The Raising of Lazarus: The Larger Plate, ca. 1630
Francisco Goya (1746-1828)

Famed artist Francisco Goya, often considered to be among the last of the Old Masters, created
numerous paintings, etchings, drawings and lithographs. He served as a court painter to Spanish
and Napoleonic rulers and uncompromisingly captured the horrors of war and the darker side of
human nature.
In the mid-1770s, Goya began working for the Royal Tapestry Factory in Santa Brbara, creating
preliminary paintings known as tapestry cartoons.
In 1792, during a visit to Cdiz in Andalusia, Goya contracted an illness which would leave the artist
permanently deaf. This turn of events would profoundly affect Goyas life and art. He spent much
of his recuperation over the next few years in isolation and during this time, he read and observed
the events and philosophies of the French Revolution. He created a series of etchings portraying
the crueler side of human nature particularly criticizing Spanish society in the 18th century in a
darker, freer, and more satirical style for which Goya would later become known. The series of
eighty prints, called Los Caprichos (The Caprices), was completed and published in 1799.
From 1810 1820, Goya created an 80-piece series of etchings, capturing in often horrifying detail
the atrocities of the French/Spanish conflict, titled Los Desastres de la Guerra (The Disasters of
War). The series would not be published until 1863, decades after Goyas death. In 1816, Goya
created etchings on bullfighting, called Tauromaquia and between 1816 and 1824, Goya created
another series of etchings critiquing human nature, Los Proverbios, also called Los Disparates.
Goya created some of the first masterpieces in the medium of lithography a series on the subject
of bullfighting. His works continue to be avidly collected worldwide by both private and public art
lovers and are also featured in numerous exhibitions, retrospectives, and permanent museum
collections, including the Museo del Prado in Madrid, which display many of his works. Goyas work
would inspire artists for generations to come and his unflinching portrayal of the world around him
served as a precursor to the realism of 19th century art.
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Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

Pablo Picasso is unquestionably the most famous artist of the 20th Century, if not all of history.
During his artistic life, lasting more than 75 years, he created tens of thousands of works. His
oeuvre includes paintings, drawings, sculpture, original lithographs, etchings, linoleum cuts
and ceramics. No single artist has had a greater influence on modern art and has changed art
more profoundly in the 20th Century.
Picasso has been described as having lived several lifetimes artistically. He created Cubism
with Georges Braque and continued thereafter to develop his art with a velocity that is
comparable to the pace and dramatic change of the 20th century.
Picasso became one of the most important original printmakers of all time. He was never
content to use any media in its purely traditional way, and he revolutionized many of the
graphic media he employed.
Park West has one of the largest collections of hand-signed Picasso graphic works in the world.
The Vollard Suite
In 1931, Picasso approached art dealer Ambroise Vollard inquiring about purchasing two
paintings, a Renoir and a Cezanne. Vollard, as a shrewd business man, offered to give Picasso
the two paintings in exchange for 100 copper etchings. Picasso agreed to the barter and
compiled 97 of his finest etchings to date, and then created 3 portrait etchings of Vollard,
thereby comprising the full Suite Vollard.
The collection of 100 etchings features 5 central themes:
Inside the Sculptors Studio
The Battle of Love
The Minotaur and the Blind Minotaur
Rembrandt
Portraits of Vollard
Picassos young lover, Marie-Therese Walter, is a central feature throughout the Suite. Picasso
was intoxicated by her sensuality and beauty, and she can be easily identified in the etchings
by her distinctive broad, Roman nose.
The works are inscribed by Picasso with the year month and day that he drew the
image. Writing in the Daily Telegraph Richard Dorment claims that as Picasso took such a long
time to create the suite, "the imagery and the emotional register of the prints constantly shifts
to reflect Picasso's erotic and artistic obsessions, marital vicissitudes, and the darkening
political situation in Europe...In the years Picasso worked on the series, fascism spread through
Europe, and civil war erupted in Spain. These anxieties also found their way into the Vollard
Suite, so that by the time you reach the end of the show and the last images of the blind
minotaur, you feel that you are in a different emotional universe from the sunlit arcadia you
encountered at the shows beginning."
In 2004, Park West purchased an extremely rare complete set of Vollard Suite etchings, each
of which was signed in pencil by Picasso. The complete set is also owned by the National
Gallery of Australia as well as the British Museum.
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The 347 Series

In 1968, Picasso created 347 etchings in the span of only 7 months at the age of 86.
For perspective, consider that Rembrandt, widely regarded for his expertise in the field
of etching, created only 300 to 400 etchings in his entire lifetime.
The 347 series stands as Picassos last great achievement in the field of graphic arts.
The suite is a testament to this mans genius, both in the skill & quality of the work as
well as the sheer depth of his creativity.
The 347 Series are among the last hand-signed etchings and engravings Picasso ever
created, with each of the original plates being etched or engraved by the hand of
Picasso alone. Individual etchings and engravings from the suite have been sold at
international auction at six-figure prices.
The complete 347 Series is part of the permanent collection of 7 museums and
institutions around the world, including:
Picasso Museum in Barcelona, Spain
National Library of Paris, France
Picasso Museum in Paris, France
Art Institute of Chicago
Peter Ludwig de Colonia Museum
Art Museum of Israel, Jerusalem
The Gottfried Keller Stiftung of Switzerland
The content of the suite is equally fascinating. Picasso rebelled against the wave of
conceptual and theoretical art that was the rage in avant-garde circles in the late
1960s. He rejected the notions of anyone can be an artist, and anything can be art,
-- the rallying cry of the conceptualists. Picasso resisted not through words, but
through a herculean creativity that pointed the way back to aesthetic beauty, technical
brilliance, and the narrative of art history: the building blocks of his life and art. Picasso
said he was writing fiction with his creation of the 347 Series. Some say that the
suite reads as a visual diary, exploring a playful side of Picassos life through depictions
of Spanish culture such as carnivals.
The signed suites present a unique and exclusive collecting opportunity. There are
only 50 signed examples in the regular edition, and an even more exclusive set of 17
signed artist proofs.
PARK WEST GALLERY | MASTER ARTISTS
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Marc Chagall (1887-1985)

Chagall is best known for having revolutionized color lithography, a medium that, until his work
proved otherwise, was frequently regarded as a mere copyists tool. Some of his lithographs used
up to 25 colors or more far more than the 3 or 4 colors that had been used previously. After a
lifetime of dedication he is now considered the greatest color lithographer of all time. His graphic
works are excellent for smart collectors who are looking for quality artwork.
Chagall believed the artist was a reflection of the creator. He believed Gods art is nature and
sought to create his own nature through his artwork. He said, When I make a painting, I put it
up next to a God made object like a flower or a tree, and if it clashes, it is not art.
In 1963, Chagall was commissioned to paint the new ceiling for the Paris Opera, a majestic 19th
century building and national monument. Though it was controversial to have a Russian Jew paint
a French monument, the French press unanimously declared Chagalls work to be a great
contribution to French culture upon the unveiling of the new ceiling.
Chagalls art defies classification. He was a Fauvist, a Surrealist, a Cubist and a Symbolist. He was
able to take the greatest aspects of all of modern art and create something that inspired happiness
worldwide. Chagall gives collectors the ability to own special, beautiful artwork that is unlike
anything else in the art world.Chagall created a lithograph on the last day of his life, March 28, 1985.
Chagalls Bible Series
In 1931, art dealer Ambroise Vollard commissioned Chagall to illustrate the Old Testament. The
series consists of 105 plates the largest number Chagall had done on a single subject. 25 years
after he began the project the etchings were published by Teriade, Vollards successor.
Pictorially and dramatically, the works are more complex than those found in his previous etchings.
The Bible Series etchings show Chagall's fluid forms, dreamlike sense of space and unique style.
Each image becomes one with the event, informing the text with a solemn intimacy unknown since
Rembrandt.
To fully immerse himself in Jewish history, Chagall traveled to Palestine and experience the Holy
Land himself. He studied their trails, prophecies, and disasters. In taking on the task of illustrating
the Bible, Chagall undertook one of the most monumental printing projects ever attempted.
Chagall once said, Ever since early childhood, I have been captivated by the Bible. It has always
seemed to me and still seems today the greatest source of poetry of all time.
The Bible Series comprises two volumes: The first volume includes 105 black and white etchings,
the second includes the same 105 etchings heightened with watercolor. It is one of the very few
major Bible illustrations of the 20th century.
Chagall used specific colors to convey the emotions and story he chose for each illustration for
his Bible series: yellow for close to God; blue for contentment; red for evil; and green for envy.
The Bible Series is in the permanent collection of: The Haggerty Museum at Marquette University
in Milwaukee, WI & The Muse National Marc Chagall in Nice, France
Quotes: If we had nothing of Chagall but his Bible [Series], he would be for us a great modern
artist, the celebrated art historian Meyer Schapiro of Columbia University once wrote.
According to author of Chagall and the Bible Jean Bloch Rosensaft, the watercolor used in the
hand-coloring by Chagall was not random but, enlivened the surface and enhanced the emotional
impact of the biblical message.
25
Joan Mir (1893-1983)

Mir is considered one of the Great Masters of 20th century art, making significant
contributions to Surrealism.
Mirs complex symbolism and style is based on Catalonian folk art, the art of children, and
randomness. He was described as the most surreal of us all by the founder of the Surrealist
movement, Andr Breton.
When viewing a work by Mir, you are enticed to let your subconscious mind awaken to help
shape what you see represented. Everyone will see something different in his work depending
on their mood and their preconceptions.
Mir's personality was surprisingly oppositional to his artwork. He was a remarkably modest
man and wore dark business suits. In fact, before becoming an artist, he worked as an
accountant. He was orderly, detail oriented, meticulous and reliable. In contrast to his art,
there was nothing of the "bohemian artist" present in him at all.
From 1940 to 1948, Mir returned from Paris to his homeland of Spain, beginning to
experiment with many media, including lithography, etching, ceramics, sculpture and the
creation of murals. He innovated the technique of etching through the use of highly-textured
applications of color, a technique that would later be called carborundum aquatint.
Mirs work was the subject of many important museum exhibitions including two at the
Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1951 and 1959. In 1956 Mir settled in Majorca, Spain
in a studio that eventually was transformed into the Mir Foundation and Museum.
The Broder Collection
Art publisher Louis Broder, active in 20th century France, commissioned artists such as Mir,
Picasso, and Braque to create interpretations of literary works, poems, or conceptual ideas.
In 1956, Broder commissioned Mir to create a series of lithographs referred to as the Broder
Collection. The collection was comprised of the following themes:
The Migratory Bird
The Perseides
Les Lizard aux Plumes dor (the Lizard with Golden Feathers)
The Seers (Les Voyants)
The Broder Collection lithographs were published in 1970 and 1971 but were not available on
the open market for over 30 years until Park West Gallery acquired the entire collection in
2004.
26
Salvador Dali & Destino

Walt Disney and Salvador Dal met in 1945 while at a party one evening at Jack Warner's house
(of Warner Bros. fame). Each had respected the others' surrealist work (for Dal thought of
Disney as a surrealist) and decided to create a short film together. Disney had been
increasingly interested in collaborations with great artists because, of his positive experience
with Kay Nielson and her beautifully designed sequence 'Night on Bald Mountain' in Fantasia.
Disney said, I want to give more big artists such opportunities. We need them. We have to
keep breaking new trails."
Dal began work on the short film in 1946 and created 22 paintings and over 135 storyboards,
drawings, and sketches. The film was set to the dreamy Mexican ballad named Destino by
Armando Dominguez, and Dal essentially visualized the songs story of love, loss, and destiny.
Dal thought Destino was, "a magical exposition on the problem of life in the labyrinth of time."
The film is rich in symbolism and explores many of the themes Dali grappled with, including
his fear of mortality and the passage of time. Despite the collaborators enthusiasm for the
project, it was shelved after just eight months due to low funds and the anticipated inability
to market Destino after World War II.
More than 5 decades later, while working on the animated feature Fantasia 2000, Roy E.
Disney, nephew of Walt and Vice Chairman of The Walt Disney Company and Director of
Animation at the time, decided to complete the overdue Destino project. A team of 25 artists
in the Paris-based Disney animation studio worked under the direction of Dominique Monfery
to fulfill the Dal-Disney dream.
Destino completed is 6 minutes, 40 seconds long. It was released on June 2, 2003, at the
Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Destino is a harmonious blend of evocative Dal
imagery and flawless Disney animation.
Destino has received the following awards:
Oscar nomination for Best Short Film, Animated (Academy Awards, 2004)
Annie Award Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Short (ASIFAHollywood, 2004)
Winner of Special Citation for Restoration (Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, 04)
Winner of Certificate of Merit (Chicago International Film Festival, 2003)
Winner of Grand Prix for Dominique Monfery, Director (Melbourne International Film Festival,
2003)
Winner of Grand Prize for Best Animated Short (Rhode Island International Film Festival, 2003)

Part 2: Beginning Study Guide: Park West Gallery - Contemporary Artists

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PARK WEST GALLERY | CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS