Infinity and the Unbound | July 1 - July 22, 2021 | Thursday, July 1, 2021 6-8 PM Reception

July 1 – July 22, 2021 Reception: Thursday, July 1, 2020 6-8 PM 530 West 25th Street, New York, NY

The collective exhibition Infinity and the Unbound is intended to provoke, inspire, and reimagine the world around us. The diverse group of highly talented artists showcase a collection of works that display a boundless journey in creative exploration.

As the artists offer different subject matter, styles, and techniques, the audience is taken on a journey of infinite potential and possibilities. Lisa Gehres presents provocative abstract expressionist works, whereas Mark Schiff delights through his frenetic yet peaceful ‘lilies’ series. Dwight Myers entrances viewers with his unique acrylic pouring techniques, and Shokouffeh Malekkiani engages mythology and the surreal in her black and white imagery. Belle Roth’s joy and compassion explodes onto her canvases in a series of spots and color splatters while Carlo Proietto elevates the art of pyrography. Finally, the KonKons bring two bodies into one artist as Ignat presents his and his late wife’s joint body of work to inspire the audience to appreciate the everlasting bonds of art and love. Each artist and their curated works come together to challenge physical, emotional, or aesthetic limitations of all aspects of humanity.

Infinity and the Unbound Lisa Gehres The KonKons Shokoufeh Malekkiani Dwight Myers Carlo Proietto Belle Roth Mark Schiff

Lisa Gehres A well-traveled artist with self-propelled artistic curiosity, and an avid interest to learn more, Lisa Gehres’ inspired journeys include Russia, North Africa, France, Austria, and Germany. After graduating from the Michael Tschernjaveski private art college, Gehres became fascinated

by New Media. She went on to study at University of Vienna in Multimedia Communication, where she continued to develop her style.

Her experiences studying art and media have paved the path for her artistic endeavors and continue to be major influences in her work.

Gehres began working in Cubism and Impressionism, but is primarily interested in abstract expressionism. In her work, she explores human emotions and motivations as a response to their social environment in figurative, colorful, multilayered compositions. Provocative and enticing, Gehres’ works urge the viewer to think, feel, and be curious about the presented material.

In each of her themed series, the artist experiments with graffiti techniques using acrylics & spray paints, resin, and paper collages on canvas. As her own emotions and identity become ingrained in her process, her works develop and evolve with depth and dimension.

The interplay of surface imagery, layered materials, and gestural markings convey expressive freedom from a fresh perspective.

View more of Lisa Gehres’ artworks on this exhibition

Angry Man, 2020 Acrylic & Spraypaint on Canvas 39.5” x 31.5”

The KonKons / Konstantina and Ignat Konstantinov ‘The KonKons’ is the title of the lifelong artistic collaboration between Ignat & Konstantina Konstantinov. The artists graduated from the National Academy of Fine Arts in Bulgaria. As a married couple, they established their graphic design and painting studio where they created oil paintings, illustration, murals, and stage design.

After emigrating to the US, their role as arts educators continued to inspire them and their students in St. Margaret’s School in Tappahannock, VA. They established their collaborative artistic name ‘The KonKons’ to indicate their joint adventure as “one artist in two bodies.” Ignat continues to share their creative legacy after his beloved wife Konstantina passed away in 2018. “Now we are ‘two artists in one body’ and my dream is to spend the rest of my life with our paintings.” Konstantina’s legacy of inspiration, ideas, sketches, and notes are the guidelines Konstantinov continues to manifest in his work.

The KonKons mixed media innovation straddles the line between fantasy and reality. Their work is highly charismatic and shares glimpses of the breadth of their studies, experiments, and practice. Their favorite motto is “In Art we live.” They incorporate distilled memories and use mixed media as a vehicle of indirect storytelling. Their work embraces the magnificence of the natural environment but also the solitude of the journey of life.

View more of The KonKons’ artworks on this exhibition

Enchanted Garden, 2017 Mixed Media on Canvas 40” x 30”

Shokoufeh Malekkiani Award winning Iranian photographer and humanitarian activist, Shokoufeh Malekkiani, dedicates her lens and her extraordinary artistic vision to philanthropic causes. Her compelling images explore a range of topics, from the plights of humanity’s most devastating realities, to capturing marginalized, overlooked communities.

Malekkiani does not limit her artistic gifts to exclusively social issues. The photographer takes every opportunity to expand her artistry and style, as demonstrated in her most recent work, wherein she tackles surrealist representation of mythological subject matter. This award winning series, entitled The Legend of the Phoenix, is a series of collage-like images with juxtaposing elements depicting the proverbial phoenix’s journey. Her sophisticated compositions demonstrate superb balance and engaging visual narratives. Her photo series, “The Legend of the Phoenix”, celebrates the inherent ability for individuals to channel characteristics of the Phoenix such as hope, renewal, grace and the victory of light over darkness.

View more of Shokoufeh Malekkiani’s artworks on this exhibition

The Legend of the Phoenix #5 Photograph on Canson 39.5” x 32.5”

Dwight Myers Captivated by the awe-inspiring landscapes of his native Florida, Dwight Myers’ artistic journey began with digital photography. Working exclusively in black, white, and infrared, he captures the dramatic power of his natural surroundings. After training with a photographer in Ithaca for three years, he became drawn to abstract art and discovered an allconsuming passion for acrylic flow painting. With alchemic precision, he utilizes formulas and measurements which allow him to have a greater degree of control and achieve predictable results. Playing on the contrast between negative space and two-tone cell patterns, he creates enthralling compositions that evoke emotion, while remaining organic and balanced. Like hypnotic black holes encircled by a myriad of glowing stars, or sinuous turquoise waves reminiscent of the ocean, Myers’ paintings exercise an entrancing and mesmerizing effect on the viewer.

Originally from Pensacola, located in the Florida Panhandle, Myers is a licensed clinical social worker residing in Rochester, NY. He runs a successful online channel called DwightPours, where he explains his artistic process and techniques, as a way to educate the public about flow art and ignite their interest and curiosity.

View more of Dwight Myers’ artworks on this exhibition

Eye of the Storm 2, 2020 Acrylic on Canvas 36” x 36”

Carlo Proietto Italian artist Carlo Proietto has been a forerunner in elevating the technique of pyrography (the art of decorating wood with heated tools or flame) into a fine art form. Proietto’s monochromatic creations, at times offset by solitary splashes of color, are defined by his careful use of line and form within judiciously composed surreal scenes. Lines are clean against visually stark tableaux, lending a sense of drama to the overall effect. A strong energy underlies the two-dimensional look of this stylistic approach, fleshing each figural composition out in a burst of passionate expressionism.

Within his pyrographic art, Proietto is able to create an entirely new mythology reflective of the human experience within the highly urbanized, industrial context of the modern world.

In his work, we see glimpses of humans struggling with the mechanisms of the outer world.

Amid the imposed order of straight lines and geometric forms, chaos and tension persist as his subjects continue an internal struggle to come to terms with the world into which they have been born.

View more of Carlo Proietto’s artworks on this exhibition

Mekaneck, 2019 Pyrography 39.5” x 39.5”

Belle Roth Belle Roth explores human interconnection through her use of color, light, and architectural influences. Roth’s compositions are rooted in abstraction; deconstructed forms are unearthed and highlighted by both line and shape that coincide with shimmering gold, neutral color fields, and vibrant accent hues. Simple lines and organic form take the forefront, remaining unedited to reflect the moment of their creation.

To create her pieces, Roth vigorously applies textured acrylics, spray paints, and gold leaf using several different techniques. Her works draw in elements from her Southeast Asian roots and celebrate joyous, unexplored opportunities. Roth creates powerful narratives centered around family, community, equality, and overcoming adversity; she intends her work to inspire ideas about our collective capabilities and hopes to inspire the pursuit of a better world.

View more of Belle Roth’s artworks on this exhibition

NOLA Day 10, 2020 Acrylic on Canvas 60” x 48”

Mark Schiff Journeying around the world has ignited artist Mark Schiff ’s creativity, which he reveals through his watercolor, acrylic, and oil compositions.

“Traveling reminds me that I am part of a vast universe filled with extraordinary places and interesting people. The adventure of travel gives me an expansive sense of freedom that often becomes the inspiration for many of my paintings,” says Schiff. His travels have taken him to diverse locations, and he explains that each journey heightens his capacity to embrace a wide spectrum of emotions that serve his creative process.

Heavily influenced by his interest in culture, music, and yoga, Schiff ’s ability to be guided by intuition opens him to what he refers to as “the ocean of creativity within.” It is from this place that he paints with bold, deliberate strokes creating eye-catching paintings that sizzle with energy and command the viewers’ attention.

Above all, Mark Schiff is a believer in the solidarity of humanity. After hearing his father’s experiences during WWII, Schiff was moved by the plight of war, its effect on people, and man’s inhumanity to man. “These stories inspired me to paint as a way to simply bring more beauty into our troubled world.”

View more of Mark Schiff’s artworks on this exhibition

Timeless Lilies Acrylic on Canvas 40” x 30”

Gallery hopping in New York Agora Gallery is located within the heart of the Chelsea Arts District with available hours from Tuesday – Saturday 11 am - 6 pm.

Opening receptions are held once a month, giving you the opportunity to meet the artists and view a variety of original artwork. Visit our website and subscribe to our mailing list to stay up to date on all events and happenings – www.Agora-Gallery.com/mailinglist

Chelsea, New York City

530 West 25th Street, Ne w Yo rk , NY 2 1 2 - 2 2 6 - 4 1 5 1 Fa x : 2 1 2 - 9 6 6 - 4 3 8 0 W W W. A G O R A - G A L L E R Y . C O M W W W . A R T M I N E . C O M

© 2021 - Agora Gallery - All Rights Reserved The copyrights of artwork contained in this booklet are retained by the artists.

Reproduction of any published material (images or text) is prohibited without the written permission of Agora Gallery.